Forest Service Celebrates National Arbor Day With Tree Giveaway In Century (With Gallery)
April 26, 2025
The Florida Forest Service held a tree giveaway Friday morning to celebrate National Arbor Day.
A line formed before the 10 o’clock start time at the community center on West Highway 4.
Over 125 tree were available — including sycamore, red maple, Chickasaw plum and common persimmon in one gallon containers — with a limit if two trees per person.
For a photo gallery, click to enlarge.
Forest Service personnel were on hand to share helpful planting information for the free trees, or to answer other tree-related questions.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Winning Fantasy 5 Ticket Worth Over $125,000 Sold In Beulah
April 26, 2025
Someone is over $120,000 richer after purchasing a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket in Beulah.
The ticket, which was not a Quick Pick, was sold at the Publix at Nine Mile Crossing in Beulah. It was the only winning ticket in the Friday evening drawing and is worth $121,663.84. The winning numbers were 4-11-16-19-26.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Over 2,200 High School Students In Escambia County Have Now Received CPR Training
April 26, 2025
Over 2,200 Escambia County students have received hands-on CPR and and AED training.
Escambia County Public Schools, in partnership with Nemours Children’s Health and the American Heart Association provided the state-required basic first aid training, which includes hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) instruction.
The program reached 2,200 students after training was conducted this week at West Florida High School, the seventh and final high school in this year’s program.
For more photos from CPR training at Northview High School, click here.
According to the American Heart Association, immediate CPR can double or triple the chances of survival after cardiac arrest. With more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occurring outside of a hospital setting each year, bystander intervention plays a crucial role in clinical outcomes.
Florida statute requires students in 9th and 11th grade to participate in basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training.
Pictured: Students receive CPR training at Northview High School earlier this year. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Man Arrested On Multiple Felony Drug Charges After Traffic Stop
April 26, 2025
A windows tint violation led to a traffic stop and arrest of a Century man on multiple drug-related charges.
Joseph Edward Campbell, 39, was charged with four counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute a schedule 2 controlled substance, all felonies.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy observed Campbell driving a black Chevy Silverado with heavily tinted windows along Century Boulevard. After pulling the vehicle over at the Century Kwik Stop, the deputy noted the strong odor of burnt marijuana.
During a probable cause search of the vehicle, deputies found a black magnetic box under the driver’s seat containing illegal substances, according to the arrest report. Items reported seized included 3.43 grams of methamphetamine, 18 Amidon Metadona pills, several pills testing positive for fentanyl, Buprenorphine and Naloxone sublingual films, and a glass smoking pipe with residue. The substances were packaged separately, a method commonly associated with drug distribution, according to the ECSO.jos
Campbell was detained without incident. A search of his wallet revealed $598.75 in cash, mostly in small and large denomination bills, the report states. Deputies also seized his iPhone and the 2023 Chevy Silverado he was driving.
Campbell was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $45,000 bond.
Pictured: Campbell’s truck was seized and towed from the Century Kwik Stop. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Laskey Bears Down Against Former Team, Delivers Latest Wahoos Win
April 26, 2025
written by Bill Vilona
It didn’t take long for pitcher Adam Laskey to feel the ice water again dumped on his head, after once again being the Blue Wahoos’ latest star on the mound. “Just as cold,” he said, laughing.
In reality, so far this season, nothing has chilled nor fazed his performance.
Laskey, 27, a former Duke University star lefthander, continued an eye-opening start to his season, earning his first win after working five strong innings in the Blue Wahoos’ 4-2 victory Friday against the Knoxville Smokies before a capacity crowd of 5,038 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The win gave Pensacola (14-5) a 3-1 lead in the series as it heads into the weekend. The players wore their Pensacola Pok-Ta-Pok uniforms in an alternate identity night — the first of three this season as part of Minor League Baseball’s Copa La Diversión initiative to honor the game’s origins.
Laskey’s outing lowered his earned run average to 0.55 in four starts. This one came against the team he pitched for in 2023. The Chicago Cubs made him available in the Rule 5 Draft that December, and the Miami Marlins selected him.
It was his first start against the Smokies, though he worked 6.2 innings in two relief appearances against them last season without allowing an earned run. His focus Friday didn’t include thinking about his former organization.
“Honestly, just trying to stack good starts on top of each other,” said Laskey, who has done that this season. “Obviously, a lot of good friends over there, but once you’re on the mound, it’s time to attack and pitch as well as you can.”
When Laskey left — allowing one run on four hits, no walks, and four strikeouts — the Blue Wahoos bullpen took over. That group has been just as impressive through 19 games this season as the starters.
Relievers Josh White and Ricky DeVito were each credited with their second hold. Closer Lane Ramsey earned his first save by striking out all three Smokies batters in the ninth. His first strikeout pitch registered 97 mph. The last pitch to end the game was clocked at 99 mph.
After the Smokies took a 1-0 lead, Johnny Olmstead reversed that with one swing in the fourth inning. His two-run homer was a no-doubter over the left-field wall that exited his bat at 108 mph.
The Blue Wahoos added two more runs in the fifth inning on Jake Thompson’s RBI single and Nathan Martorella’s sacrifice fly to score Thompson, who had a big night. The Blue Wahoos left fielder reached base all four times with three hits and a walk. He led a lineup where seven players registered a hit.
The game’s most important sequence occurred in the eighth inning. The Smokies had scored a run and had runners on first and third with one out. DeVito made big pitches — a curveball to strike out Haydn McGeary, the Smokies’ No. 3 batter, and then got cleanup hitter B.J. Murray Jr., the team’s top slugger, to fly out to left.
The Blue Wahoos will have Dax Fulton on the mound Saturday to try to clinch the series against Knoxville on a Fireworks Saturday.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Knoxville Smokies vs. Blue Wahoos
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday
GAME TIMES: Saturday at 6:05 p.m., Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
Six Lanes For Hwy 29? Four Lanes For Hwy 97? Rural Transportation Projects Prioritized
April 25, 2025
Six lanes for Highway 29? Four lanes for Highway 97? Those are just a few of the proposed projects on the Regional Rural Transportation Plan (RRTP) 2025 Transportation Project Priorities list — a list of proposed projects that aim to improve mobility, safety, and connectivity across rural area of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa counties, as well as all of Holmes and Washington counties.
The RRTP Technical Advisory Committee will consider the project priority rankings, possibly changing the priority order, during a meeting on May 21. The list will then be sent to the Emerald Coast Regional Council board for consideration, also on May 21. The final list will be sent to the Florida Department of Transportation for consideration and possible funding.
Proposed projects in Escambia County are listed below by their priority ranking.
In the following list, PD&E notes “Project Development and Environment Study” and PE notes “Preliminary Engineering (Design)”. None of the listed projects have been approved or funded to date.
Capacity Project Priorities
2. Highway 29 FL/AL Connector — widen to six lanes from I-10 to the state line in Century – Feasibility Study
6. Highway 97 — widen to four lanes from Highway 29 to state line at Atmore — PD&E
8. Highway 4 (Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa) — widen to four lanes from Highway 29 in Century to Baker – Feasibility Study
Resurfacing Project Priorities
1. Highway 164 — resurface from Highway 97 to Highway 29 (widening not included) – PE
2. Highway 168 — resurface from Highway 99 to Highway 4A – PE
4. Highway 4 — resurface from Highway 97 to Highway 99 – PE
6. State Line Road — resurface 0.4 miles in the Century town limits – PE
7. Molino Road — resurface from Highway 29 to Highway 95A – PE
8. Highway 196 — resurface from Highway 29 to Highway 95A – PE.
Safety Project Priorities
3. Highway 29 & Highway 98 at Crabtree Church Road — high crash area — Safety Study
Bike/Ped/Trails Project Priorities
6. Highway 4 — shared use path from Highway 29 in Century to baker — TBD
Freight Project Priorities
3. Escambia AL & Gulf Coast Rail — track and tie rehab — PE
TA Project Priorities
3. Complete Streets Master Plan — Highway 29 from State Road 4 to County Road 4 –$125,000
4. Freedom Road Safety Enhancement — sidewalks, curb ramps, bike lanes from Highway 4 to Jefferson Avenue — $1.5 million
To see the complete project priority list, including all counties, click here (pdf).
The priorities are submitted annually to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) as part of the statewide transportation planning process to support coordination across rural and regional efforts.
Man Seriously Injured In Thursday Night Crash Near Bratt
April 25, 2025
A Century man was seriously injured in a single vehicle rollover crash in Bratt Thursday night.
The adult male was traveling westbound on Highway 168 about a half mile east of North Highway 99 when his Chevrolet Silverado cross the centerline and traveled off the roadway. The pickup truck struck a culvert and flipped through a ditch, coming to rest about 150 feet away at another culvert. The man, who reportedly was not wearing a seat belt, was able to exit the truck following the crash.
The man was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
For additional photos, click here.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County’s Isabelle Jenkins Nominated For Florida FFA President
April 25, 2025
Escambia County FFA member Isabelle Jenkins of Pensacola High School has been nominated for president of the 65,000 member Florida FFA Association.
With the nomination, she was automatically guaranteed selection as a state officer. After a vote at the 97th Florida FFA State Convention and Expo this summer., she will either be president or secretary of the organization.
The Florida FFA Association selected Jenkins and 11 other students as candidates for state FFA office from a field of 39 FFA members that took part in the selection process.
The student members were challenged with an intense interview process, which included an individual interview, individual problem-solving activity, state degree interview, agricultural knowledge Interview, and a conversational exercise.
Tate Falls To Fletcher In Game Two Of Regional Playoff Series
April 25, 2025
The Tate Aggies fell to the Fletcher Senators 8-0 in game two of a best-of-three series in the FHSAA 6A Baseball State Championship regional quarterfinals.
Keelan Beasley opened on the mound for Tate. He gave up four this and four runs in two and-two thirds innings, striking out one and walking two. Kaleb Posta pitched two and one-third innings, surrendering three hits and two runs while recording one walking and four strikeouts. Sheppard Edgar pitches for two, allowing one hit, two runs, walking one and striking out one.
Brayden Beck went 1-3 for the Aggies at the plate. Game three of the series move to Fletcher in Neptune Beach, near Jacksonville, at noon Central.
Pictured: Tate beat Fletcher 3-0 in game one of the series on Wednesday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Softball District Playoff Brackets Set For Northview And Tate
April 25, 2025
FHSAA district softball tourament schedules have been released for Northview and Tate.
In Rural District 1, No. 1 Jay and No. 2 Northview both have a bye on Monday. On Tuesday, Jay will play the winner of No. 4 Baker and No. 5 Central, and Northview play the winner of Monday’s game between No. 3 Paxton and No. 6 Laurel Hill. The district championship will be May 1. All Rural District 1 games are set to be played at Laurel Hill.
In 6A District 1, No. 3 Tate (8-13) will travel to No. 2 Navarre (12-8) on Tuesday, and No. 4 Crestview will be at No. 1 Pace. The district championship will be May 1 at the higher seed.
NorthEscambia.com file photos.
