Beulah Man, A Former School Custodian, Sentenced To Prison For Trying To Lure Child For Sex
August 20, 2026
A Beulah man who was working as a school custodian has been sentenced to state prison this week for trying to lure a child for sex.
Chad Lane Wren, now 57, was charged in October 2025 by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement with soliciting or luring a child to engage in sexual conduct. After pleading no contest this week, he was sentenced to 36 months in prison with credit for 249 days served. He was also sentenced to five years of probation and designated as a sexual offender.
He was ordered to have no contact with any minor following his release.
According to court documents, he arranged to meet who he believed to be a 14-year-old for sex, but the person was actually an FDLE agent. “I prefer younger,” he texted, according to FDLE.
Additional charges of traveling to meet a child for obscene purposes and using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony were dropped.
Wren resigned from his position as a custodian at Blue Angel Elementary School on the day of his arrest.
Primary Election Voter Turnout Tops 27% In Escambia County
August 20, 2026
More than 25,000 Escambia County residents voted in person on Tuesday, pushing the overall primary election voter turnout over 27%, according to the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections.
Complete, but unofficial numbers show a 27.23% turnout of 55,619 voters.
Of those, 25,562 (45.96%) voted in person on primary day. There were 15,209 (27.35%) ballots voted by mail and 14,793 (26.4%) cast during early voting at 10 sites.
There were 35,521 Republican voters, 18,134 Democratic voters, 4,252 with no party affiliation and 712 “other.”
Statewide, the primary turnout was just over 25% with 3.36 million votes cast out of 13.5 million registered voters.
Pictured: North Escambia voting precincts on election day – Walnut Hill (top), International Paper (first below), Quintette Community Center (second below), Gonzalez Baptist Church (third below) and First Baptist Church of Bratt (bottom). NorthEscambia.com photos by William Reynolds and Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
New Principal, Assistant Principal Confirmed For Kingsfield Elementary
August 20, 2026
The Escambia County School Board has confirmed a new principal and assistant principal for Kingsfield Elementary.
Maureen Cowart, the former assistant principal, was named principal of Kingsfield Elementary.
“Thank you so much for the opportunity to continue serving my community,” she said.
Lisette Guttery was promoted from literacy coach to assistant principal at Kingsfield.
“Together with our Kingsfield staff, we will work tirelessly to make Kingsfield a flagship school and set the standard for excellence that makes Escambia County proud,” she said.
This week, the school board also confirmed:
- Caroline Carithers – Assistant Principal, O.J. Semmes Elementary School
- Casandra Manis – Workforce Education Specialist
- Kristen Sappington – Subject Area Specialist, Gifted/Exceptional Student Education
Pictured top: Maureen Cowart, new Kingsfield Elementary School principal. Pictured below: Lisette Guttery, new assistant principal. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Armed Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty To Federal Charges
August 20, 2026
A Homeland Security task force investigation led to a guilty plena by an Escambia County armed drug trafficker, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Marquis Dy’Monte Bethea 32, of Pensacola, pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
In September 2025, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop for an infraction. Bethea was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle. After a drug detection K-9 positively alerted to the presence of narcotics, law enforcement searched the vehicle. During the search, deputies located a loaded pistol, $10,350 cash, and over 200 grams of methamphetamine, according to court documents.
Bethea faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, on the drug distribution count, and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, for the firearm count, consecutive to the sentence imposed on the first count.
Arrangements Announced For Former Century Mayor, Councilman Luis Gomez, Jr.
August 20, 2026
Celebration of life services for Luis Gomez, Jr., will be held Saturday, August 22, at 2:30 p.m. at Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church in Century, Florida. Viewing will be Friday, August 21, from 5 to 7 p.m., and the repass will be at the Century Community Center (Ag Building) following graveside services on Saturday. Flowers may be sent to Jackson-McMurray Funeral Services at 130 West Hecker Road.
Arrangements have been announced for former Century mayor and councilman Luis Gomez, Jr.
A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, August 22, at 2:30 p.m. at Pilgrim Lodge Missionary Baptist Church on Jefferson Avenue in Century. Viewing will be held Friday, August 21, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Jackson-McMurray Funeral Home in Century. The repass will be held at the Century Community Center on West Highway 4 (Ag Building) following graveside services on Saturday.
RELATED: ‘An Honor And A Privilege’ – Former Century Mayor, Councilman Luis Gomez, Jr. Dies
Gomez was appointed interim mayor in August 2023 after the resignation of then-mayor Ben Boutwell. He was later elected to the position with no opposition in 2023 in a special election to finish Boutwell’s term and again with no opposition in 2024 for another four-year term that started on January 1, 2025. He was first elected to the town council in 2017. Gomez was also known for community service, hosting events such as block parties for local youth.
Wahoos, Smokies Washed Out Again On Wednesday
August 20, 2026
Wednesday’s scheduled contests between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Knoxville Smokies were postponed due to rain.
Tuesday’s game, suspended in the top of the second inning with the Smokies leading 9-0, will be picked up on Thursday at 3:05 p.m. CT. Thursday’s regularly scheduled game will follow approximately 30 minutes after its conclusion. In accordance with MLB’s rules and regulations, the second game will be shortened to seven innings. The unplayed game scheduled for Wednesday will be rescheduled at a later date if deemed necessary by Major League Baseball.
Fans with tickets to Thursday’s game will have admittance to both games in the seat listed on their ticket. Fans with tickets to Tuesday’s suspended game or Wednesday’s postponed game can exchange them for any remaining regular season game, subject to availability. Each ticket must be exchanged at the Pensacola Blue Wahoos Ticket Office for a ticket of equal or lesser value. Exchanges must be made in person and cannot be processed via telephone, e-mail or fax.
Escambia County’s Next School Superintendent Will Be Chosen By Voters
August 19, 2026
Escambia County voters will once again elect a school superintendent.
Voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot referendum on Tuesday:
“Shall the superintendent of schools of Escambia County, Florida, be elected by the majority of the qualified electors of Escambia County, Florida?”
- Yes: 38,244 (71.28%) ✅
- No: 15,411 (28.72%)
Escambia voters will elect a school superintendent during the November 2028 general election.
In November 2018, Escambia County citizens voted by a narrow margin to move from an elected to an appointed superintendent.
The Escambia County School Board voted 3-2 on February 18, 2025, to place a referendum on the general election ballot to send the question back to voters. The referendum was introduced by District 5 member Tom Harrell, with Harrell, Kevin Adams, and Paul Fesko voting in favor. Board members Carissa Bergosh and David Williams were opposed.
“I feel very strongly about this,” Harrell, who campaigned on a return to an elected superintendent, said at a February board meeting. “The county, I think, feels very strongly. There’s never anything wrong with letting the people decide. When you have a democracy, it’s all about people making decisions.”
“Deep down in my heart, having been here in this district for 60 years, that’s what the people of this district want,” Harrell added. “It’s the right time; it’s the right thing to do.”
Pictured: The polling place at the First Baptist Church of Bratt, where 87% voted for an elected school superintendent. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Voters Reelect Three Incumbent Escambia School Board Members
August 19, 2026
Voters reelected three incumbent Escambia County School Board members in Tuesday’s primary election.
School Board District 1
- Kevin Adams 61.18% ✅
- Erin Toler 38.82%
School Board District 2
- Paul Fetsko 66.01% ✅
- Gerald Washington 33.99%
School Board District 3
- David Williams 59.21% ✅
- Isaac Williams 40.79%
Donalds, Jolly Win Governor Primaries, Will Face Off In General Election
August 19, 2026
U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds fended off challenges from 10 other Republicans in Tuesday’s primary to carry his party’s nomination for governor into the general election.
He’ll face former U.S. Rep. David Jolly, a former Republican who switched parties and easily defeated five other Democrats.
Donalds called on Republicans to come together and immediately focused on Jolly.
“Now is the time for the Republican Party to unite. By working together, we can make Florida more affordable and defend the Florida Dream for our families, seniors, and young people,” Donalds posted on X. “My Democrat (sic) opponent would raise taxes, make life more expensive, and bring the Democrats’ radical left agenda to the Sunshine State – Florida cannot afford Liberal David Jolly.”
Donalds, 47, faced vocal opposition from Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, former House Speaker Paul Renner and conservative activist James Fishback.
As of Tuesday evening, Donalds had 48 percent of the vote, while Collins received 25 percent, Fishback had 10 percent and Renner had 9 percent.
Jolly, 53, brushed aside his opposition, taking 62 percent of the vote. The next-largest vote-getter in the Democratic primary was Dayna Marie Foster, who received 15 percent, and state Rep. Dotie Joseph of North Miami garnered 10 percent.
Jolly also was eager to pivot to the general election.
“We’re a state gripped by an affordability crisis and exhausted by culture wars. People want change,” Jolly said in a video posted on X.
Backed by an endorsement from President Donald Trump, Donalds dominated the field and easily outraised his opponents, raking in more than $110 million. Much of the money he spent in the primary was aimed at Jolly, with ads bashing him for supporting transgender issues, such as allowing transgender women in women’s bathrooms and to play in female sports.
But Donalds bore the brunt of attacks from Collins and Renner, who accused him of being weak on crime, favoring data center construction and slammed him for refusing to debate them.
At one point Collins sued to kick Fishback off the ballot, alleging his voting record in Washington D.C. in 2020 and the purchase of a primary residence there in 2021 showed he didn’t live for seven consecutive years in Florida as required by the state constitution. A Leon County judge, though, rejected the suit saying there wasn’t enough evidence.
Collins campaigned heavily on his military background as a Green Beret who had his leg amputated due to injuries sustained in Iraq, as well as his appointment by DeSantis at lieutenant governor in August 2025. He even tapped DeSantis’ Director of Emergency Management, Kevin Guthrie, to be his running mate on Monday evening.
But DeSantis never formally endorsed Collins or anyone else in the campaign, although he specifically criticized Donalds.
After initially saying Renner’s decision to enter the race in 2025 was misguided, DeSantis this month said he would make a “good governor.”
Renner touted his term as Speaker in 2022-2024 in which much of DeSantis’ conservative agenda was passed, including universal school vouchers, bans on transgender surgery for minors, eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion policies, and a bill allowing people to carry concealed weapons without a license.
The efforts of Donalds’ opponents, however, ran into a wall of campaign ads and implicit trust in Trump among the GOP electorate.
In the Democratic primary, Jolly waltzed to victory over Foster and Joseph, who got in the race at the end of qualifying, after Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings dropped out due to a cancer diagnosis.
Joseph wanted to give Democrats an alternative to Jolly, a former Republican who moved away from the GOP as Trump rose to prominence. But she had minimal fundraising and low name recognition throughout the state.
by Gray Rohrer, The News Service of Florida
Pictured: Byron Donalds (left) and David Jolly.
Patronis Wins Primary, Will Face Valimont In November
August 19, 2026
U.S. House District 1 incumbent Jimmy Patronis won the GOP primary on Tuesday to head to the general election.
Patronis received 71.14% of the vote, easily defeating challengers John Frankman (19.51%) and Douglas Chico (9.35%).
Patronis will face Democrat Gay Valimont in November.