Boil Water Notice Lifted For Farm Hill Utility Customers
May 31, 2025
THIS BOIL WATER NOTICE WAS LIFTED MONDAY MORNING, JUNE 2.
Due to a broken water main at Muscogee Road and County Road 97, Farm Hill Utilities has issued a precautionary boil water notice for a portion of their service rea.
Specifically, the boil water notice includes the area bounded by Jacks Branch Road and adjacent roads, Muscogee Road and Andalusia Road.
Residents located in the area are advised that all water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes be boiled. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient. As an alternative, bottled water may be used. This “precautionary boil water notice” will remain in effect until the problem has been corrected and a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink
Precautionary boil water notices are issued as a part of the standard protocol following any loss of water pressure, whether as a result of planned maintenance activities or unscheduled repairs.
For more information, contact Farm Hill Utilities at (850) 968-2573 or check their website.
NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Work Release Inmate Struck By Vehicle
May 30, 2025
An Escambia County work release inmate was struck by a vehicle Friday afternoon in Cantonment.
It happened about 2:45 p.m. on Muscogee Road at Country Road 97.
“An Escambia County inmate was struck by a vehicle while on work release detail. The inmate is being transported by EMS for further evaluation,” Andie Gibson, Escambia County public information officer, said after the incident.
The driver of a Chevrolet Silverado apparently struck the inmate as Escambia County crews were working in the area. Farm Hill Utilities was also working in the area to repair a water main break, but it was not immediately clear if that contributed in any way to the crash.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not yet released further details.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged In String Of Vehicle Theft Cases
May 30, 2025
A Cantonment man has been charged in string of vehicle theft cases.
Timothy Garrett was charged with multiple counts of grand theft of a motor vehicle, grand theft from a posted construction site, dealing in stolen property, resisting, and criminal mischief.
In February, a Kubota RTV was stolen from a posted Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) construction site on Old Chemstrand Road, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The site’s fence was cut to gain entry, and a side-by-side, valued at $12,700, was taken. Investigators said that Timothy Garrett allegedly offered the stolen Kubota for sale shortly after its disappearance. Two separate witnesses reported Garrett attempting to sell them the vehicle for just $800.
Further investigation linked Garrett to the theft of a Yamaha Warrior 4-wheeler from a residence on Molino Road in March. The victim reported their fence was cut, and the 4-wheeler, valued at $1,500, was stolen. Information gathered during the inquiry suggested Garrett was seen with the stolen 4-wheeler, and its tires were later located at a property on Jacks Branch Road. Garrett claimed to have purchased the 4-wheeler from a teenager, but this account was refuted by another individual.
Most recently, in May, deputies attempted to locate Garrett on Jacks Branch Road in connection with active warrants. Garrett was observed riding a green motorcycle dirt bike and attempted to flee. After a pursuit, he was apprehended. The motorcycle was later identified as stolen from a residence on San Carlos Road.
Garrett remained in the Escambia County Jail Friday morning with bond set $87,500.
Two McDavid Men Charged In Case Of Stolen, Returned, Stolen Again Side-By-Side
May 30, 2025
A recent theft investigation by the Atmore Police Department has unveiled a series of events more like a comedic caper than a typical crime, involving a stolen side-by-side vehicle that was snatched, returned, and then stolen again within the same night.
The curious case began on May 19, when an Atmore Police Department officer responded to Parker & Sons on Nichols Avenue at Highway 31 regarding a stolen side-by-side. Upon reviewing security footage, the business made a surprising discovery: their side-by-side had been stolen not once, but twice on the night of May 18.
Atmore Police Department investigators, working in conjunction with Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office investigators, soon pieced together the peculiar timeline and recovered the vehicle at a residence in McDavid.
Investigators identified the initial culprit as 27-year-old Cody McNeil from McDavid. According to investigators, McNeil stole the side-by-side just after midnight. In an unexpected twist, he apparently had a change of heart and returned the vehicle about an hour later, according to police.
However, the side-by-side’s brief return to its rightful place was short-lived. Soon after McNeil’s impromptu return, 50-year-old Dennis Comalander, also of McDavid, allegedly stole the very same side-by-side. The vehicle was ultimately recovered at Comalander’s residence, according to police.
The Atmore Police Department obtained warrants for both individuals for theft of property first degree. Cody McNeil was arrested by an Atmore Police officer on May 27 and transported to the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center.
Dennis Comalander was apprehended by an Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s deputy on May 28 and booked into the Escambia County (FL) Jail, where he is currently awaiting extradition back to Alabama.
Ernest Ward Middle School Names Students, Employee Of The Month
May 30, 2025
Ernest Ward Middle School recently named their employee and student of the month for May. Pictured (L-R) with Principal Tyvanna Boulanger are students Kaylee Moore, eighth grade; Jocelyn Smith, seventh grade; Hadley Alan Ramos, sixth grade; and Selena Hester, teacher assistant. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Final Vote To Set Special Election For Century Town Council Seat
May 30, 2025
The Town of Century has set a second and final reading of an ordinance setting a special election to fill a vacant seat on the town council.
The ordinance will be up for a final vote during the town council’s regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 17 at town hall.
On May 6, Councilmember Sandra McMurray-Jackson resigned from Seat 5 for personal reasons. With more than six months remaining until the end of her term in January 2027, the town charter requires that the council set a special election and appoint a replacement to the five-member body.
The special election has been set for Tuesday, July 29. If no candidate for the non-partisan seat receives one vote more than 50%, a runoff will be held on September 29. The winner will take office 10 days after certification of the election.
The qualifying period for candidates is set for June 23-25.
The town recently held a special election for mayor and another council seat due to resignations, electing Ben Boutwell to the mayor’s seat at John Bass to the council.
Pictured: Century Mayor Ben Boutwell, attending his first council meeting after being reelected in a special election, takes notes during a town council meeting on May 20. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Fitterer Sharp, But Clutch Hitting Eludes Wahoos In 6-1 Loss To Biscuits
May 30, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos had ample opportunity to convert on offensive opportunities on Thursday night, but couldn’t make the most of their chances in a 6-1 loss to the Montgomery Biscuits.
A night after going 0-for-11 with men in scoring position in a 3-1 defeat, the Blue Wahoos left a runner in scoring position in seven of their nine innings and brought in their lone run on an RBI groundout.
Evan Fitterer (L, 2-4) pitched well, allowing only two runs in 5.1 solid innings, but solo home runs from Xavier Isaac in the first inning and Ricardo Genoves in the fifth inning provided the Biscuits with an early boost.
The Blue Wahoos evened the score 1-1 in the second inning, loading the bases with no outs against starter Ty Johnson (W, 4-0) thanks to a hit batsman and two walks. Johnny Olmstead tied the game with an RBI groundout, but Johnson coaxed a popout and strikeout to escape further trouble.
The Genoves homer in the fifth gave the Biscuits a 2-1 edge, and the Blue Wahoos failed to capitalize on their many late-game opportunities to tie the game or take the lead. Their only hit among 15 at-bats with a man in scoring position was a Dalvy Rosario single in the seventh that moved Spencer Bramwell from second base to third. Both runners would be stranded, among the 10 total men left on base throughout the night.
In a rare off night for Pensacola reliever Josh Ekness, the Biscuits added four insurance runs in the eighth on a Will Simpson sacrifice fly and two-out RBI singles from Ryan Spikes and Hunter Stovall. Dan Hammer closed out the ninth for the Biscuits to secure a 6-1 final.
With the defeat, the Blue Wahoos have lost nine games in a row to tie a team record.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Friday. First pitch from Riverwalk Stadium is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Two Residents Displaced By Molino House Fire
May 29, 2025
Fire left two people without a home in Molino Thursday afternoon.
The fire was reported about 1:30 p.m. in the 550 block of Cedartown Road, just off Highway 95A. Arriving fire crews found heavy smoke coming from the eaves of the home from the attic fire.
The American Red Cross is assisting two adults who were displaced by the fire.
There were no injuries reported, and the cause of the fire was under investigation.
Responding units included the Molino, Cantonment, McDavid, and Century stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue, Pace Fire Department, and Escambia County EMS.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Judge Rejects Arrest Warrant For Employee In Case Of $11,000 Missing From Town Of Century
May 29, 2025
An Escambia County judge declined to issue an arrest warrant in connection with the alleged theft of over $10,000 from the Town of Century.
In March 2025, then-interim mayor Alecia Johnson reported to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that there were six missing deposits totaling $11,000 from the Town of Century to their bank account at United Bank in Flomaton.
Johnson told deputies that one town employee was solely responsible for making the deposits, but the employee had denied taking anything. The individual is no longer employed by the town.
In late February 2025, the town received a letter from Whataburger stating that their utility payment from July 23, 2024, had not cleared their bank. Current Town Clerk Carrie Moore told an ECSO investigator that a review of the town’s records and bank transactions confirmed that on multiple dates, utility payments received from residents and businesses were not deposited into the Town of Century’s bank account. Moore said, however, that the residential and business accounts were credited, according to an ECSO report obtained by NorthEscambia.com.
The Town of Century’s internal investigation revealed that the now former employee, “who was solely responsible for making the town’s daily deposits into the Town of Century’s bank account, failed to do her duty in a timely and consistent manner resulting in the missing deposits exceeding $11,000.”
In a meeting with interim mayor, town clerk and town manager on March 3, the former employee “admitted that she did not make deposits daily and on multiple occasions she held the deposits for several days before taking them to the bank,” the ECSO report states. Whataburger and other utility customers were credited for payments.
The former employee stated she was either “sick or gone from work for some reason”, the ECSO report states, but the investigator found she was walking on the dates of the missing deposits. The Town of Century report shows that of the seven missing deposits there is a total of $2,627.90 in cash and $8,432.51 in checks for a total of $11,060.41 not deposited into their account.
On March 10, the former employee told the ECSO investigator that she was seeking legal counsel and would speak at that point. The ECSO report noted that she never made additional contact with investigators, and their attempts to contact her were unsuccessful.
The ECSO received subpoenaed documentation and surveillance video of the night deposits from United Bank.
The internal Town of Century report, records of daily deposits and corresponding transactions, the former employee’s time sheets, Town of Century monthly bank statements and thumb drive of surveillance video were placed into evidence as the ECSO submitted a warrant affidavit seeking an arrest warrant for the former employee.
Escambia County Judge Scott Ritchie rejected the warrant affidavit for the former employe, according to a supplemental ECSO report, closing the investigation. A reason was not specified.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Molino Woman, Pensacola Man Arrested By FDLE On Fentanyl Charges
May 29, 2025
A Molino woman and Pensacola man were arrested on drug charges on Wednesday after the Florida Department of Law Enforcement served multiple search warrants in Molino, Cantonment and Pensacola.
Darius Andreas Brooks, 37, and Jennifer Lynn Beck, 53, were arrested on fentanyl and related crimes., according to FDLE. The arrests were the result of a joint investigation led by FDLE with assistance from the Pensacola Police Department, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Brooks is charged with trafficking fentanyl, trafficking heroin and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Beck is charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of fentanyl and possession of controlled substances without a prescription.
“Today’s arrests highlight FDLE’s unwavering commitment to fighting fentanyl traffickers in Florida. I am proud of the dedicated FDLE agents and crime analysts who continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure drug traffickers are held accountable,” FDLE Pensacola Special Agent in Charge Chris Williams said Wednesday.
The case began in July of 2024 when FDLE received a tip that fentanyl was being distributed in Pensacola. The tip also included the names of persons suspected of trafficking fentanyl and other illicit drugs in the West Florida region.
Agents said the investigation revealed that Brooks and Beck were trafficking drugs with another trafficker, David Ryan Thompson, who FDLE arrested in February of 2025.
Multiple search warrants were served Wednesday at locations in Molino, Cantonment, and Pensacola. Law enforcement seized approximately one kilogram (more than 2.2 pounds) of fentanyl, trafficking amounts of heroin, trafficking amounts of methamphetamine, trafficking amounts of MDMA, approximately one pound of cannabis, an AR-15 rifle, a stolen AK-47 rifle, U.S currency, several cell phones and a 2019 Chevrolet Camaro.
Brooks and Beck were booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.