Escambia Hams Push Through Storms To Practice Emergency Communications
June 29, 2025
Local ham radio operators in Escambia County are taking part in the 2025 American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Field Day this weekend, taking a break only for a thunderstorm.
ARRL Field Day is an opportunity for about 40,000 amateur radio enthusiasts throughout the U.S. and Canada to set up temporary communications stations and make contact with like-minded people. Licensed radio operators, often called “hams,” spent the weekend practicing community outreach, emergency preparedness and technical skills.
The Five Flags Amateur Radio Association is operating until 4 p.m. Sunday at Ashton Brosnaham Park off East 10 Mile Road. They went on the air about 6 a.m. on Saturday.
Five Flags mateur radio operator Gene Bannon, call sign KB4HAH, said amateur radio operators were the only ones communicating for 36 hours after Hurricane Ivan. He said sheriff’s deputies could not talk to each other and the fire departments couldn’t talk to each other. He added that amateurs were the communications source for the first 36 hours before the arrival of satellite trucks and other equipment.
Bannon said that’s the reason amateur radio exists.
For more photos from Saturday, click here.
Club members set up their amateur radio equipment — ranging from old 1980s radios to modern digital gear and satellite communications. With a generator and portable antennas, including a wire antenna spanning half a soccer field, they were soon communicating with ham operators across the United States and Canada.
But Saturday afternoon, they were forced to take a break due to rain and lightning from a thunderstorm. Radios were disconnected from antennas, and equipment was tarped.
“Lightning can quickly send your radio to the trash heap,” Bannon said as the lightning storm began to move away. “And it’s dangerous.”
The amateur radio operators have their own equipment inside the Escambia County Operations Center, ready to provide needed communications during local emergencies. That room was named for Rudy Hubbard, WA4PUP, a ham operator who passed away in May 2021.
I-110 Resurfacing Project Set To Begin
June 29, 2025
The Florida Department of Transportation will begin a $7.2 million resurfacing project on I-110 from I-10 to Highway 98 in Pensacola.
This project also includes:
Resurfacing the I-110 ramps between the I-110/I-10 interchange and Cervantes Street (Exit 2).
Guardrail and lighting upgrades.
Stormwater management enhancements.
New and updated signing and pavement markings.
During construction, drivers may encounter periodic lane closures Sunday through Thursday evenings, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. Additionally, there will be periodic I-110 on and off-ramp detours for the milling and paving work.
This project is scheduled for completion in early 2026.
Patronis Applauds House Passage Of Bill Benefiting Military, Veterans
June 29, 2025
Northwest Florida Congressman Jimmy Patronis is applauding passing of a House bill which allocated more than $152 billion towards critical investments in military infrastructure that support readiness.
H.R. 3944 – The Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2026, fully funds veterans’ health care programs, veterans’ benefits, and VA programs, providing more than $452 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs. That’s more than $82 billion above the enacted level for Fiscal Year 2025. Patronis voted in support of the legislation.
Patronis said, “I’m grateful for President Trumps and Speaker Mike Johnson’s leadership in the passage of this pro-military, pro-veteran legislation. This bill puts America’s veterans, active-duty military, and their families first by providing historic funding that increases the readiness of our troops and ensures that our veterans and military families receive the care and support they need back home. It also bolsters our national security, enhances border protections, and prevents any efforts to undermine veterans’ Second Amendment rights. This bill will go a long way toward assisting the many veterans and military families in Florida’s First Congressional District and ensure our heroes in uniform are well-prepared to defend the homeland.
“This Military Construction and Veteran Affairs bill allocates $75 million for the design and planning of future barracks, $2 billion for military family housing, and fully funds veterans’ medical care at more than $131 billion, which will go towards veterans’ benefits and toxic exposure-related needs. I’m also pleased to report that this funding measure includes more than $970 million for the Bridging Rental Assistance for Veteran Empowerment program, which is an initiative dedicated to ending veteran homelessness. Our heroes in uniform put their lives on the line 24/7/365, and this bill honors both their sacrifices and those of our nation’s veterans.”
‘It’s Gonna Be Really Embarrassing’ – ECSO Says Cantonment Man’s Texts Link Him To Trailer Theft
June 29, 2025
A Cantonment man was arrested on a felony charge after allegedly stealing a trailer from a business on West Nine Mile Road, and the deputies say he was linked to the crime by his texts.
Joseph Shane Wilson, 45, was charged with grand theft and later released from the Escambia County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
The owner of Sheds Plus reported a blackout edition 7×16 enclosed Rocksold trailer valued at $10,000 was stolen from the property. The trailer theft was captured on surveillance video as it was pulled away by an older model silver and gold half cab Chevrolet Silverado, later traced by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to Wilson.
Wilson’s cell phone had been seized during a separate ECSO narcotics search warrant.
On the day of the trailer theft, Wilson sent a text stating “I got this thing and I’m taking it to weezys shop”, according to an ECSO search of the phone. Deputies also reported finding a picture on Wilson’s phone of the trailer that was taken on the day of the theft.
Investigators also reported finding a text on Wilson’s phone that stated:
“”it’s gonna be really embarrassing if I go to jail because I went and stole a $10,000 trailer because I was worried about lot rent and your car payment and power bill because you got paid and didn’t pay a dime on any bills and you are broke and then I go and blow $500 at casino this morning and then you want to try and act like your little motel job is more important than anything I might need to do or want to do .. it takes you several months to make what I have in the last 2 weeks.”
Century Town Council Cancels July 1 Meeting, Reschedules Another
June 29, 2025
The Town of Century has canceled its regularly scheduled July 1 town council meeting.
The council normally meets on the first and third Tuesdays, but the council had previously rescheduled their July 15 meeting to July 22, meaning the council’s only July meeting will be on the 22nd.
The July 1 meeting was canceled with little to no business set for the agenda, and the July 15 meeting was delayed a week by the council because Town Clerk Carrie Moore will be at a conference.
NorhtEscambia.com file photo.
Blue Wahoos, Lookouts Postponed Again In Chattanooga
June 29, 2025
Saturday’s doubleheader between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Chattanooga Lookouts at AT&T Field was postponed due to wet grounds.
The twin bill was intended to make up Friday’s game, which was postponed due to rain.
One of the games will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday, with first pitch of game one scheduled for 12:15 p.m. EDT/11:15 a.m. CDT. The doubleheader will consist of two seven-inning games, with game two starting approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one. The final game of the series will be made up at a later date.
Walnut Hill Sex Offender Charged With Sexually Cyber-Harassing Woman, Failing To Register
June 28, 2025
A registered sex offender from Walnut Hill has been charged with sexually cyber-harassing a woman.
Walter Eugene Sunday, 54, sent numerous sexually explicit photos and videos of male genitalia to a woman over a six-hour period from Sunday night through 1:50 a.m. Monday, June 23, according to an arrest report.
Monday morning, an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy found Sunday sitting on a bench in his front yard on Nokomis Road, and he “immediately started making statements his phone had been stolen a couple days ago by someone named Jamel,” the report states. Additional statements were redacted from his arrest report.
The victim told deputies that she had never been in a romantic relationship with Sunday, and that the messages were unsolicited.
The victim told deputies that Sunday had sent her a photo in the past with no message, and she immediately deleted it. She also alleged Sunday had sent the same type of unwanted and unsolicited photos to another female, but deputies were unable to make contact with the female.
Sunday’s phone was seized by the ECSO.
Sunday was convicted of lewd and lascivious conduct on a victim under 16 in June 2013, and is required to register as a sex offender. According to the ECSO, he failed to return to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to reregister as required with the Florida Sex Offender/Predator database during May 2025. Deputies noted he was previously convicted of failing to register in July 2024.
Sunday was charged with sexually cyber-harassing another person and felony failure to reregister. He remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
FHP Seeks Jeep, And Driver With Only Two Front Teeth, For Cantonment Hit And Run
June 28, 2025
The Florida Highway Patrol is asking for the public’s help in locating a Jeep involved in a hit and run crash on Highway 29 earlier this month.
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 the Jeep rear-ending a white Lincoln Navigator. The Jeep driver stopped briefly before fleeing north on Highway 29 toward Molino.
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 investigation if there is damage to the Jeep,” FHP said Friday.
Sample image provided by FHP.
DeSantis Gives State Employees Extra Day Off For Independence Day And A Pay Raise
June 28, 2025
Today, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that state offices will be closed on Thursday, July 3.
“In anticipation of America’s upcoming semiquincentennial celebration in 2026, I am giving state employees a longer weekend this year to celebrate,” said Gov. Ron DeSantis. “I hope our state employees use this additional time off to enjoy Florida’s Freedom Summer with their loved ones and reflect on the importance and meaning of our nation’s founding.”
The governor is also approving a 2% raise—funded through the state’s annual budget—for state employees, which will go into effect July 1, 2025. At the Governor’s request, this raise will not be applied to the salary of the Governor.
State offices will close on July 3rd in addition to regular office closures on July 4th commemorating Independence Day. State office closures will create a four-day holiday weekend which will benefit nearly 100,000 people in the State Personnel System.
Electrical Cord Short Sparks Fire In Gonzalez
June 28, 2025
An electrical short is being blamed for a fire Thursday afternoon in Gonzalez.
At 4:55 p.m., Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to a shed fire in the 1700 block of Batson Lane, just off Pauline Street.
Firefighters arrived within minutes and were able to quickly bring the fire under control. There were no injuries. The ECFR investigation determined the fire to be caused by a shorted electrical cord inside the shed.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
