Fire Marshal Investigating Fire That Destroyed A Bratt House Possibly Occupied By Squatters
July 5, 2025
The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating a suspicious fire that destroyed a home in Bratt Friday afternoon.
The vacant house, which authorities say had no active utilities, was a total loss. Investigators are looking into whether squatters may have been present before the fire.
The 1,400 square foot wood-frame home in the 4400 block of Rigby Road was fully engulfed in fire when the first firefighters arrived on scene.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid, Molino, and Century stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue were dispatched to the blaze, along with the Atmore Fire Department.
The fire, which was reported about 3:05 p.m., was declared under control around 3:50 p.m. There were not injuries.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FHP Seeks Driver With Only Two Front Teeth In Cantonment Hit And Run (With New Photo)
July 5, 2025
The Florida Highway Patrol is still asking for the public’s help in locating a Jeep involved in a hit-and-run crash on Highway 29 last month.
NorthEscambia.com has now obtained dashcam images from FHP of the alleged hit-and-run driver.
About 2 p.m. on Monday, June 2, a gray Jeep Gladiator was observed traveling north on Highway 29 near Highway 95A in Cantonment. FHP says the Jeep failed to stop for traffic ahead, which resulted in it rear-ending a white Lincoln Navigator. The Jeep driver stopped briefly before fleeing north on Highway 29 toward Molino. Before he fled, he was captured on an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office dashcam, but the tag number is unreadable.
The driver of the Navigator described the driver of the Jeep as a white male in his 50s with only two front teeth and a blister on his left foot, according to troopers.
The Jeep Gladiator was described as having orange accent accessories with a small, unknown number Alabama tag. It was last seen northbound on Highway 29 passing Well Line Road.
“It is unknown at the time of the investigation if there is damage to the Jeep,” FHP said.
Anyone with information is asked to call *FHP.
Images from NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Fall to Shuckers On The Fourth Of July
July 5, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos couldn’t contain the Biloxi Shuckers or their sellout crowd on Friday night, falling 10-4 in front of a raucous Independence Day audience.
After overcoming an early 3-0 deficit, the Blue Wahoos couldn’t answer seven middle-inning Biloxi runs as the Shuckers racked up 10 total runs for the second time in four games.
Ike Buxton (L, 0-2) ran into trouble right away in the first inning, falling behind 2-0 on a bases-loaded walk to Zavier Warren and Ethan Murray double play grounder. The Shuckers added another in the second inning on a Jheremy Vargas run-scoring fielder’s choice, taking a 3-0 advantage.
The Blue Wahoos rallied back against Shuckers starter Tate Kuehner (W, 7-4), as Tony Bullard hit a solo homer in the third inning to get on the board. A Johnny Olmstead RBI double and Ryan Ignoffo RBI single in the fourth inning briefly tied the game 3-3.
The Shuckers quickly answered and took the lead for good, scoring three runs against Buxton in their half of the fourth inning. RBI singles from Vargas and Luis Lara marked the end of the night for the Pensacola starter, and reliever Alex Williams fared little better. The righty allowed three more runs in the fifth on RBI doubles from Murray and Matthew Wood, and another in the sixth on a Warren RBI single.
Ignoffo doubled in the seventh and scored on a wild pitch for the fourth Pensacola run, but the Biloxi bullpen effectively protected the lead to secure a 10-4 final in front of a sellout crowd of 6098 fans.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biloxi Shuckers on Saturday night. First pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
Food Safety Tips For A Happier Fourth Of July
July 4, 2025
Due to a variety of factors, including warmer temperatures, foodborne illness increases in summer. Stay healthy and safe during warmer months by following these food safety recommendations from the USDA:
When bringing food to a picnic or cookout:
- Use an insulated cooler filled with ice or frozen gel packs. Frozen food can also be used as a cold source.
- Foods that need to be kept cold include raw meat, poultry, and seafood; deli and luncheon meats or sandwiches; summer salads (tuna, chicken, egg, pasta, or seafood); cut up fruit and vegetables; and perishable dairy products.
- A full cooler will maintain its cold temperature longer than a partially filled one. When using a cooler, keep it out of the direct sun by placing it in the shade or shelter.
- Avoid opening the cooler repeatedly so that your food stays colder longer.
When cooking on the grill:
- Use separate cutting boards and utensils for raw meat and ready-to-eat items like vegetables or bread.
- Keep perishable food cold until it is ready to cook.
- Use a food thermometer to make sure meat and poultry are cooked thoroughly to their safe minimum internal temperatures
- Beef, Pork, Lamb, & Veal (steaks, roasts, and chops): 145 °F with a 3 minute rest time
- Ground meats: 160 °F
- Whole poultry, poultry breasts, & ground poultry: 165 °F
- Always use a fresh, clean plate and tongs for serving cooked food. Never reuse items that touched raw meat or poultry to serve the food once it is cooked.
When serving food outdoors:
- Perishable food should not sit out for more than two hours. In hot weather (above 90 °F), food should NEVER sit out for more than one hour.
- Serve cold food in small portions, and keep the rest in the cooler. After cooking meat and poultry on the grill, keep it hot until served – at 140 °F or warmer.
- Keep hot food hot by setting it to the side of the grill rack, not directly over the coals where they could overcook.
Cost of 4th Of July Cookout Reaches Remains High, Farm Bureau Says
July 4, 2025
Families celebrating the Fourth of July holiday continue to find high prices at the grocery store, based on the 2025 American Farm Bureau Federation annual marketbasket survey. An Independence Day cookout will cost $70.92 for 10 guests this year.
This is down only 30 cents from last year’s record-high cost. At $7.09 per person, 2025 will be the second-highest cost since Farm Bureau began the survey in 2013. The cookout favorites include cheeseburgers, chicken breasts, pork chops, homemade potato salad, strawberries and ice cream, among other products. While the survey does not include an exhaustive list of Fourth of July options, it serves as a snapshot of prices families are facing this summer.
“Inflation and lower availability of some food items continue to keep prices stubbornly high for America’s families,” said AFBF Associate Economist Samantha Ayoub. “High prices don’t mean more money for farmers, however. Farmers are price takers, not price makers. Their share of the food retail dollar is just 15%. The cost of running their farm is up, from labor and transportation, to taxes.”
The marketbasket survey shows an increase in the cost of beef, potato salad and canned pork and beans, while there are drops in the cost of pork chops, chips and hamburger buns.
Volunteer shoppers across the country, including Farm Bureau members and others, collected data from stores in every state and Puerto Rico. Prices before the holiday may not reflect sales and specials at individual stores.
Individual Prices, AFBF 2025 Summer Cookout
2 pounds of ground beef, $13.33 (+4.4%)
2 pounds of chicken breasts, $7.79 (-0.5%)
3 pounds of pork chops, $14.13 (-8.8%)
1 pound of cheese, $3.54 (-0.9%)
1 package of hamburger buns, $2.35 (-2.6%)
2 ½ pounds of homemade potato salad, $3.54 (+6.6%)
32 ounces of pork and beans, $2.69 (+8.2%)
16-ounce bag of potato chips, $4.80 (-2.1%)
13-ounce package of chocolate chip cookies, $4.00 (+0.3%)
½ gallon of ice cream, $5.69 (+0.7%)
2 pints of strawberries, $4.69 (+1.7%)
2 ½ quarts of lemonade, $4.37 (+4.2%)
Fireworks Are Terrifying For Pets. Here Are Some Tips To Help.
July 4, 2025
Unlike people, pets don’t associate the noise, flashes and burning smell of fireworks with celebration. As a result, fireworks can cause a great deal of stress for some pets. Unexpected behavior may be displayed by your pet while trying to escape from the loud noises including jumping a fence to find safety, running away or “flight from fright,” destruction of yard or household items and biting.
Here are some quick tips from the Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare:
- Do not take your pet to fireworks displays.
- Do not leave your pet in the car while you watch a fireworks display. In only a matter of minutes, the heat in a car can cause serious health problems or even death. A stressed animal can also cause major damage to the interior of your car.
- Be mindful of hot asphalt and sand. Keeping your dog on hot asphalt or sand even for short periods of time can cause severe burns to the pads of their feet.
- Keep pets indoors. Turn on the TV or radio as a distraction and close the curtains.
- Never leave pets unattended outside, not even in a fenced yard or on a chain, if you are near a fireworks display or if your neighbors are lighting small fireworks. They may try to run away or become tangled up in their chain.
- Provide a pet bed or crate in a quiet place to create a small den-like atmosphere and a sense of security.
- If you must be outside with your pet, keep the pet on a leash or in a carrier at all times.
- Make sure your pet has proper identification tags with current information in case they run away.
- If your pet often becomes stressed during periods of loud noise like thunderstorms, check with your veterinarian to see if a tranquilizer is appropriate for your pet.
“Unlike people, pets don’t associate the noise, flashes and burning smell of fireworks with celebration,” said Animal Welfare Director John Robinson. “As a result, fireworks can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety for some pets. We encourage you to also contact your veterinarian for additional solutions to pet anxiety. Following these tips will help keep your pets safe during the holiday.”
If your pet runs away, please check 24PetConnect.com under the “I Lost A Pet” section. The Animal Welfare and Adoption Center, located at 200 W. Fairfield Drive, is open Monday-Friday from 12-5 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Who Has The Best Local Fireworks Show? How Will Locals Celebrate The Fourth? Our Survey Says…
July 4, 2025
How will North Escambia residents celebrate the Fourth of July, and which town has the best local fireworks show?
NorthEscambia.com conducted our annnual survey with four questions for the Fourth. We found the majority of respondents will enjoy family time and cookouts, while more are opting for fireworks at home with family or friends instead of public fireworks shows. And most won’t be traveling very far from home.
Celebration Plans
Family time (73%)
Cookout (52%)
Fireworks at home with family/friends (34%)
Public fireworks shows (29%)
Nothing special (31%)
Spending Amount
A majority, 66%, said they’ll be spending under $50 on their celebrations, while 20% said $50-$99 and 12% responded $100-$249. Only 2% plan to spend over $250.
How Far To Travel
Most, 68%, don’t plan on any extra travel, 25% will travel under 100 miles, and 3% will travel 100 to 499 miles. About 4% said they will travel over 500 miles during the holiday period.
Best Local Fireworks Show
Survey participants said the best local fireworks show is:
- Pensacola 52%
- Pensacola Beach 15%
- Atmore (Wind Creek) 15%
- Century/Flomaton 10%
- Jay 7%
- Milton 1%
(For a fireworks show schedule, click here.)
This was an informal, non-scientific survey with 17,256 respondents. Percentages in this story may not exactly total 100 due to rounding, exclusion of minor answers, and more than one selection in the “celebration plans” category.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
AAA: Florida Fourth Of July Weekend Road Trips Expected To Set New Records
July 4, 2025
AAA projects 72.2 million Americans will travel domestically during the Independence Day holiday period (Saturday, June 28 to Sunday, July 6). This represents an increase of 1.7 million travelers (2.4%) over last year and 7 million more than in 2019.
Florida travel is expected to reach historic levels, with nearly 4.6 million Floridians hitting the road, skies, and rails – that’s up 146,000 (3%) from last year.
- Driving: More than 4 million Floridians will take a road trip (+127,000 from last year, up 3%).
- Flying: Nearly 330,000 Floridians will fly domestically (+4,000, up 1%).
- Other Modes: Nearly 204,000 Floridians will take buses, trains, or cruises (+15,000, up 8%).
“Independence Day is one of the most popular times for travel, with Americans eager to take advantage of summer vacation opportunities,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of AAA Travel. “This year, we’re seeing strong demand for road trips, flights, and cruises, especially with the holiday falling on a Friday. This is allowing travelers to extend their getaways and make lasting memories with loved ones.”
Snelling Shines, Snyder Delivers In Festive Wahoos Win
July 4, 2025
written by Bill Vilona
Robby Snelling had just allowed a solo homer, then a pair of singles in the second inning when Blue Wahoos pitching coach Jerad Eickhoff met on the mound.
The crossroads moment settled Snelling, who then produced another stellar outing that helped lead the Blue Wahoos to a 2-1 victory Thursday against the Biloxi Shuckers before a packed sellout crowd of 5,038 at Blue Wahoos Stadium. The win on Fourth of July eve was the Blue Wahoos’ sixth in eight games to start the second half.
This one came on a night when the Blue Wahoos wore specialty patriotic blue uniforms and hats with call signs – the U.S. Navy version of nicknames chosen among teammates.
The guy with call letters “Bush” was the Blue Wahoos’ beast Thursday.
Infielder Michael Snyder, who joined the team only last week in Chattanooga from the High-A Beloit Sky Carp, slashed a two-strike, two-run single in the sixth inning that became decisive.
“Down 0-2, just looking for something in the (strike) zone, just keep it simple, concise and put the bat on the ball,” he said during the on-field, post-game interview.
The game was followed by a fireworks show which ended with a grand finale that ignited more cheers from the capacity crowd.
“One-run games are great, it’s a good atmosphere, high intensity and lot of fun with the guys,” Snyder said. “It is a really good day for the boys, but for America and taking pride in what we do, supporting the troops, supporting America, so it’s a lovely evening.”
Snelling exited after five innings, allowing five hits, one run, one walk and eight strikeouts – his second-most punchouts this season.
Behind him was the Blue Wahoos’ stout bullpen. Nigel Belgrave and Josh Ekness combined to twirl four scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and one walk with seven strikeouts.
In the pivotal eighth inning, Ekness made a throwing error on his underhand toss to first base that would have ended the inning. But then he made a big pitch to get Shuckers catcher Darrien Miller on a swinging strikeout.
In the ninth, Ekness struck out the first two batters and ended the game on a groundout for his eighth save.
The Shuckers’ Zavier Warren opened the scoring with a one-out homer off Snelling in the second inning for the game’s first run.
Biloxi starter Brett Wichrowski, rated among the Milwaukee Brewers’ top 30 prospects, held the Blue Wahoos in check until the eventful sixth inning.
Cody Morissette led off the inning with a walk, then Kemp Alderman’s single and a fielding error from center fielder Luis Lara put runners at second and third before Snyder delivered the eventual game-winning hit.
The teams will now make the short trip to Biloxi where the series shifts for the holiday weekend with three games at Keesler Federal Park. The Blue Wahoos won’t return to play a homestand until July 18, following a road trip next week and the Major League Baseball All-Star break.
GAME NOTABLES
— Prior to the first pitch Thursday, the Blue Wahoos honored the memory of former Pensacola baseball star Hosken Powell with a moment of silence.
Powell, 70, was a Woodham High graduate, who became the No. 3 overall pick as an outfielder by the Minnesota Twins in the first round (secondary phase) of the 1975 MLB draft. He was drafted after a strong year at Chipola College where his teammate and roommate was Buck Showalter, who became a long-time decorated manager in Major League Baseball. Powell played six seasons in the major leagues – four with the Twins where he batted .293 in 1979 with 99 hits and 36 RBI – and his final two years with the Toronto Blue Jays.
— Pensacola Habitat For Humanity, part of the national organization, had its special outing Thursday at the ballpark. The organization set up an inflatable house outside the stadium to bring awareness to their cause. Rachel Gibson from Pensacola Habitat For Humanity performed the National Anthem.
In addition, Cecily Kopytchak from the local organization performed God Bless America in the seventh inning. A representative from the group did a pregame interview, bringing awareness to the Women Build program as part of the local chapter where all-female crews build a home. A 50-member group from the non-profit organization watched the game from the breezeway area.
— Capt. Chandra Newman, the new commanding officer of Naval Air Station-Pensacola, addressed the crowd before the game to recognize the partnership between the Blue Wahoos, the U.S. Navy and NAS-Pensacola.
— Thursday’s game completed a brief stopover by the Blue Wahoos. The team will travel early Friday afternoon on the Fourth of July to begin a three-game series in Biloxi.
Century Head Start Center to Close Amid Enrollment And Funding Issues
July 3, 2025
The Community Action Program Committee’s Century Head Start Center will shut down later this month.
The closure will be effective July 18.
“This decision follows careful consideration of persistent enrollment challenges and ongoing funding constraints. These combined factors have significantly impacted our ability to sustain the program and continue delivering services at the expected standard,” CEO and Head Start Director Douglas Brown told NorthEscambia.com on Wednesday. “Our immediate focus has been on ensuring continuity of care for all families affected. We’re pleased to share that all children have been successfully placed within one of our organization’s other locations, with the exception of one child who will require a referral to a trusted network partner. We remain committed to providing timely, transparent communication and supporting families throughout this transition.”
Brown did not detail the number of children or employees impacted.
According to the CAPC website, the Century Center provided early childhood education to children 12 months to 5 years at 440 East Hecker Road. CAPC also operates additional Head Start centers in Molino for the same age group, Cantonment for ages 3-5 and other locations across Escambia County.
“While the closure may raise broader concerns about access to early childhood education, we are fortunate to have a strong internal network that has allowed us to place children within our own system of care,” he said. “This transition underscores the critical importance of maintaining a robust, coordinated network of providers to ensure families experience minimal disruption when unexpected changes arise.”
“While we are saddened by this closure, our commitment to early childhood education in this region remains strong. We will continue to champion high-quality programming and advocate for the needs of young children and their families,” Brown added.