Injuries Reported In Saturday Afternoon Three-Vehicle Crash On Highway 29
January 18, 2026
At least one person was injured in a two-vehicle crash Saturday afternoon on Highway 29 in Cantonment.
The crash occurred shortly after 3:30 p.m. just north of Neil Road.
A Mercury Mountaineer and a passenger car collided on Highway 29. The Mountaineer then left the roadway and collided with a parked Chevrolet van belonging to a local pilot escort company.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not yet released the cause of the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
MLK Day Parades, Celebrations Planned For Monday; New Route For Pensacola Parade
January 18, 2026
Annual MLK Day parades and celebrations are planned across the Escambia County area for Monday. For the Pensacola parade, there is a new route due to the Reimagine Palafox construction project.
Cantonment MLK Parade The 19th Annual MLK Parade will be held Monday in Cantonment. Parade line-up begins at 3 p.m., and the parade will start at 4 p.m. from Carver Park, 208 Webb Street. There is no entry fee.
Century MLK Celebration and Parade An MLK Celebration program will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at the Ag Building at the corner of West Highway 4 and Industrial Boulevard. Guest speakers will include Mayor Ben Boutwell, and there will be live music from area church choirs and children’s groups. Immediately after a meal provided by the Century-Flomaton Improvement Association, there will be a motorcade from the Ag Building to the Century Business Center on Pond Street.
Atmore MLK Parade The annual MLK Parade will roll at 10 a.m. from Houston Avery Park and end at the Emmanuel Faith Center at 710 E. Ridgeley Street with food, door prizes, a guest speaker, and entertainment.
Pensacola MLK Parade The Pensacola MLK Parade for 2026 is set for Monday, January 19, 2026, kicking off at 11 a.m. at Spring & Garden Streets downtown with the theme “With Unity, We Won’t Turn Back,” featuring Grand Marshal Lumon May. Due to construction on Palafox Street, there is a new route this year. Rather than traveling all the way down Palafox Street, the parade will detour one block east to Jefferson Street south of Garden Street (map above).
The parade route and float staging areas will close to vehicular traffic approximately three hours prior to the start of each event. Parking is prohibited along the parade route and in designated no-parking areas. Vehicles will be towed if found on the parade route or the additional “no parking” zones when road closures begin.
Street closures will extend to Tarragona Street, DeVilliers Street, and Main Street, consistent with closures implemented during the 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and the Pensacola Christmas Parade. Heavy parade and float traffic is anticipated between Wright Street and Main Street, along with impacts to Garden Street, Palafox Street, and Spring Street.
Controlled Burn Escapes Lines Saturday Night Near Bratt
January 18, 2026
Firefighters responded to a controlled burn that grew out of control Saturday night near Bratt.
The fire in the 8000 block of Bratt Road, near Camp Road, was reported around 7:30 p.m. Firefighters from the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue were able to contain the approximately one-acre fire, and the Florida Forest Service responded.
No structures were reported to be in danger from the fire.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Slow Down Spots
January 18, 2026
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads and projects in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- Interstate 10 (I-10) Resurfacing, from east of U.S. 29 to east of Davis Highway (State Road (S.R.) 291) – Drivers on I-10 may encounter intermittent lane closures between mile markers 11 and 14, Sunday, Jan. 18 through Thursday, Jan. 22, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., for milling and paving operations.
- Interstate 110 (I-110) Resurfacing from I-10 to U.S. 98 – Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on I-110, between I-10 and U.S. 98, Sunday, Jan. 18 through Thursday, Jan. 22, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., for construction activities.
- S.R. 289 (Ninth Avenue) Resurfacing from Creighton Road (S.R. 274) to Olive Road - Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on Ninth Avenue, between Creighton Road and Olive Road, Sunday, Jan. 18 through Thursday, Jan. 22, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., for paving operations and placement of thermoplastic striping.
- S.R. 296 (Michigan Avenue) Resurfacing from Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) to North Palafox Street (U.S. 29) – The week of Sunday, Jan. 18, drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on Michigan Avenue, from Mobile Highway to North Palafox Street, between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., for paving operations and placement of thermoplastic striping.
- S.R. 292 (Gulf Beach Highway) Resurfacing from Gulf Beach Highway to Manchester Street – The week of Sunday, Jan. 18, drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on S.R. 292 from east of Bauer Road (County Road (C.R.) 293) to Manchester Street, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., for construction activities. Additionally, a new traffic configuration has been implemented on S.R. 292 between Mills Avenue and just east of Patton Drive, with travel lanes shifted to the outside of the roadway to provide space to construct a median traffic separator. Channelizing devices are in place to delineate the work zone. The speed limit has been reduced to 35 mph throughout the work zone.
- Business U.S. 98 (Garden Street) Construction from Pace Boulevard to the I- 110 ramp – The week of Sunday, Jan. 18, drivers may encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions:
- Beginning Monday, Jan. 19, a new temporary traffic configuration will be implemented on Garden Street, between Pace Boulevard and N. Donelson Street. Garden Street travel lanes will be shifted to the south to provide a dedicated work zone on the north side of the street for construction activities. This temporary traffic configuration will be in place through late 2026.
- Periodic 24-hour side street closures north of Garden Street, from B Street to J Street, for ECUA water main upgrades. Signage will be in place to direct drivers through the work zone.
- On-street parking is closed on Garden Street, between B Street and L Street.
- I-10 at Nine Mile Road Interchange (Exit 5) Construction – Drivers will encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions:
- Intermittent I-10 inside lane closures near the Nine Mile Road interchange, Sunday, Jan. 18 through Thursday, Jan. 22, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Nine Mile Road will be reduced to one travel lane in each direction between the I-10 ramps, Sunday, Jan. 18 through Friday, Jan. 23, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Law enforcement will be on site, and directional signage will be in place to guide drivers through the work zone.
- I-10 at U.S. 29 Interchange (Exit 10) Construction – Drivers will encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions the week of Sunday, Jan. 18:
- Intermittent lane closures may occur on North Palafox Street between Whitehead Drive and Hope Drive for construction at the North Palafox Street overpass. Flaggers will be present to direct traffic through the work zone.
- I-10 is reduced to two travel lanes in each direction between U.S. 29 and I-110.
- I-10 travel lanes are shifted away from the median area of the roadway, near the U.S. 29 interchange.
- The U.S. 29 southbound access to the I-10 eastbound on-ramp has been reduced.
- The U.S. 29 northbound ramp to I-10 eastbound is closed. U.S. 29 northbound drivers are being detoured to make a U-turn at Broad Street onto U.S. 29 southbound to access I-10 eastbound.
Santa Rosa County:
- S.R. 87 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade – Motorists will encounter a road closure from Elva Street to Raymond Hobbs Street Monday, Jan. 19 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade.
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Median and turn-lane closures from Bayshore Road to Tiger Lake Drive.
- Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between Bayshore Road and Tiger Lake Drive, Sunday, Jan. 18, through Friday, Jan. 23, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for paving operations.
- S.R. 87 Resurfacing from U.S. 98 to south of East Bay Boulevard (C.R. 399) –Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures Sunday, Jan. 18 through Thursday, Jan. 22, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., for striping operations.
- S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard) Bridge Rehabilitation over East Bay - Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures Monday, Jan. 19 through Friday, Jan. 23 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for construction operations.
- U.S. 90 Turn Lane Operations just west of Stewart Street – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures Monday, Jan. 19 through Thursday, Jan. 22 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for construct of left turn lane.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Ice Flyers Drop Wiener Dog Race Night Game To Evansville
January 18, 2026
The Pensacola Ice Flyers lost their second consecutive game to the reigning league champions Saturday night.
The Evansville Thunderbolts won 2-1 in front of a sellout crowd of 8,082 at the Hangar on Wiener Dog Race Night.
Evansville struck first with Derek Contessa scoring the lone goal of the first period. Tyrone Bronte tied things up early in the second period, hoping to shift the momentum in the Ice Flyers’ favor. However, Evansville’s Eelis Laaksonen reclaimed the lead later in the 2nd period.
Both teams struggled to find scoring opportunities in the third period, and Evansville left with a 2-1 victory over the Ice Flyers. Pensacola was coming off a 3-2 loss to Evansville on Friday night.
The Ice Flyers cap off the three-game weekend Saturday afternoon.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Council Cancels Next Week’s Meeting With Nothing On The Agenda
January 17, 2026
The regular Century Town Council meeting that was scheduled for Tuesday, January 20, has been canceled.
The meeting was canceled due to a lack of actionable items for the agenda. The next regular council meeting will be held Tuesday, February 3, at 6:15 p.m. at Century Town Hall.
The council generally meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 6:15 p.m., with three exceptions: the second meeting of August will be held on August 25, the first meeting of November will be November 10 due to election days; and a single meeting will be held in December on December 1.
Pictured: The January 6 meeting of the Century Town Council. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
High School Hoops: Northview Beats South Baldwin Christian, Friday Night Roundup
January 17, 2026
The Northview Chiefs beat the South Baldwin Christian Academy Knights from Gulf Shores 59-48 at home Friday night in Bratt.
Friday Night High School Scoreboard
BOYS
Northview 59, South Baldwin Christian 48
Milton 85, Tate 67
GIRLS
South Baldwin Christian 42, Northview 23
Milton 48, Tate 13
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Missing 1-Year-Old Found Safe, Mother Arrested And To Face Child Neglect Charge
January 17, 2026
A 1-year-old girl that had been missing since December 2, was located safe on Friday in Monroe County, Alabama, while her mother was arrested to await extradition to face charges including child neglect in Florida.
Anastasia Grace Mason was last seen at the Oyo Hotel in the 6900 block of Pensacola Boulevard with her father, 36-year-old Thomas Zachariah Mason, and mother, 30-year-old Jami Makala Owens.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to the hotel after Owens was acting strangely in the lobby due to a possible drug overdose, and she was unable to tell deputies which room the child was in.
After a search, deputies were able to locate Anastasia in a room with a different adult male, not Mason, and a quantity of narcotics. The father had joint custody of Anastasia at the time and took her while Owens was transported to the hospital. The sheriff’s office completed a warrant affidavit for Owens, but by the time the warrant was issued she had been released from the hospital. Deputies were then unable to locate Anastasia, Owens or Mason.
After Owens was arrested on Friday in Uriah, Alabama, she was transported to the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton where she was booked on an outstanding Escambia County, Alabama, warrant for bail jumping first-degree. She faces extradition back to Escambia County, Florida, to face the child neglect charge and charge of petty theft.
Anastasia was released to the custody of the Department of Children and Families. Mason was not charged with any crime.
Escambia County Warns Of Fraudulent Planning And Zoning Invoices
January 17, 2026
Escambia County is warning of a planning and zoning invoice scam.
The Escambia County Development Services Department has received reports of fraudulent emails claiming to represent the Escambia County Planning Board, requesting immediate payment to approve rezoning request
applications.
“Do not respond to these fraudulent messages, pay the attached invoices, or click any links,” the county shared. “These emails are not legitimate and are not associated with Escambia County Development Services. ”
Planning and Zoning invoices will be sent from a county staff member with a myescambia.com email address and can be paid in person with cash or check or through the MyGovernmentOnline website using a secure link.
For more information about Planning and Zoning, contact Escambia County Development Services at (850) 595-3475.
Tate Baseball’s Nathan Connors Signs Pitching Scholarship With Coastal Alabama
January 17, 2026
On Friday afternoon, Tate High School senior baseball player Nathan Connors signed a baseball scholarship to pitch for Coach Matt Collins at Coastal Alabama Community College (North Campus) in Brewton.
Connors is a three-year varsity letterman at Tate and is regarded as one of the top pitchers in the area.
Connors plays summer travel baseball with Next Level Baseball (NLB), and was a member of the 2D Team Florida squad that won the 2D Southeastern Cup, a tournament featuring teams from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas.
At 17 years old, he stands 6’1” and weighs 165 pounds.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
