New Charges Filed Against Man Charged In Century Hit And Run That Injured Five
March 3, 2025
New charges have been filed against a Panama City man for a hit and run crash February 1 in Century that injured five people, including children.
Following the crash, Dexter Ivey Smith, 35, was charged by the Florida Highway Patrol with felony hit and run for failure to stop or remain on scene at a crash with injury, along with misdemeanor battery and driving with a revoked license. According to court records, Escambia County Judge Kristiana Lightel found that no probable cause existed, the charges were dropped, and Smith was released from custody.
Last week, Smith was charged multiple updated charges. He was charged with five counts of felony hit and run for failure to stop or remain on scene at a crash with injury, driving with a revoked license, and misdemeanor battery. Court records show a careless driving citation against Smith is also still pending.
The crash happened just before 8 p.m. February 1 on Highway 29 near the southern town limits.
The driver of a northbound pickup truck was struck by a northbound SUV driven by Smith approached at a high rate of speed, according to troopers. The pickup truck overturned multiple times, coming to rest on the shoulder just north of Salter’s Lake Road. Smith’s SUV rotated into the paved median of Highway 29.
The 38-year-old female driver of the pickup truck and her passengers — a 45-year-old male, 18-year-old male, 13-year-old male and a 6-year-old female — all sustained minor injuries and were transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS.
A witness told troopers that a white male in his mid-thirties with short black hair and a long nose fled from the scene. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office later received a report of a man matching the description outside a nearby home. The witness identified Smith as the driver that fled the scene of the crash.
FHP said Smith was charged with battery for throwing a flashlight at the passenger of the second vehicle.
He is due back in court in June.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tesla Dealership Under Construction On Nine Mile Road
March 3, 2025
A new Tesla sales and service center is in the works on NIne Mile Road.
The business is located in the former Virginia College, adjacent to Ollie’s a new Aldi that will open next week.
[RELATED STORY: Grand Opening Date Set For Nine Mile Aldi Store]
According to documents filed with Escambia County, the Drake Service and Sales facility will be 42,208 square feet, with a majority of the building will be used for servicing, preparing, and selling new and used vehicles. The building will have a small showroom and lounge for potential customers to inspect vehicles and speak with salespeople regarding electric vehicles, solar panels and batteries.
Documents state that there will be no body work or paint conducted on the property, and no batteries will be stores on site.
An opening date for the dealership has not been announced.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century To Consider Creating Town Administrator Position
March 3, 2025
This week, the Town of Century will consider hiring town administrator.
According to a council agenda, the town administrator “would serve as the sole professional administrative officer assisting the mayor with municipal operations, personnel management, and financial oversight”. The position’s duties would also include the financial oversight responsibilities typically assigned to a financial services director—”ensuring budget preparation, fiscal accountability, grant management, and procurement compliance”.
The town administrator would report directly to the mayor, but also provide regular updates to the town council while taking direction from the council and mayor. The person, according to a proposed ordinance creating the new position, could be a contract employee, a regular employee or a company.
A salary for position, if approved, has not yet been discussed by the town council, which will discuss creating the position at their regular council meeting Tuesday evening.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
FWC Hunter Safety Courses Set For Molino, Cantonment, Jay, Milton
March 3, 2025
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering free hunter safety internet-completion courses in Molino, Cantonment, Jay and Milton. Hunter safety courses are designed to help students become safe, responsible and knowledgeable hunters and learn about conservation.
Participants must take the online course before attending a class.
All firearms, ammunition and materials are provided free of charge. Students should bring a pen or pencil and paper. An adult must accompany children younger than 16 at all times.
Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975, must pass an approved hunter safety course and have a hunting license to hunt alone (unsupervised). The FWC course satisfies hunter-safety training requirements for all other states and Canadian provinces.
The two-day events will be held as follows, and you must have completed an online hunter safety course and have a copy of the completion certificate or field day voucher prior to taking a Field Day.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
- March 10, 6 p.m. and March 29, 9 a.m. — Molino Community Center
- April 7, 6 p.m. and May 3, 9 a.m. — Escambia County Extension, Cantonment
- April 14, 6 p.m. and May 3, 9 a.m. — Molino Community Center
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
- March 17, 6 p.m. and March 29, 9 a.m. — Jay United Methodist Church
- March 24, 6 p.m. and March 29, 9 a.m. — Santa Rosa Extension, Milton
- April 21, 6 p.m. and May 3, 9 a.m. — Jay United Methodist Church
- April 28, 6 p.m. and May 3, 9 a.m. — Santa Rosa Extension, Milton
Those interested in attending a course can register online and obtain information about future hunter safety classes or by calling FWC safety coordinator Jeff Schumacher at (850) 767-3612 for more information or email.
Florida Average Gas Price Slips A Few Pennies
March 3, 2025
Florida’s average gas price declined 3 cents last week, according to AAA. Sunday’s state average was $3.07 per gallon.
Florida gas prices were $3.10 last week, $3.07 per gallon a month ago, and $3.35 per gallon this time last year.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $2.89. In Pensacola Sunday night, a low of $2.65 could be found at a station on Kenmore Road. In North Escambia, the low price was $2.85 at two stations on Highway 29 in Cantonment.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
EREC, Walnut Hill Post Office Remain Closed Due To Mold
March 2, 2025
The Escambia River Electric Cooperative Walnut Hill Office remains closed, but it is expected to open later this year.
In early August 2024, the post office on Highway 99a next to Ernest Ward Middle School was closed.
EREC CEO Ryan Campbell said recently that the post office and the power cooperative office were closed due to mold.
“I know it is inconvenient to everybody, but we are not willing to put employees in harm’s way,” Campbell said. “It will be an EREC office again, and we plan to open the post office.”
As EREC works with their contractor, there’s no timetable for the reopening.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Barth, Molino Neighborhood Cleanup Set For Wednesday
March 2, 2025
A neighborhood cleanup for residents in portion of Barth and Molino will take place Wednesday, March 5. It is a chance for residents to dispose of items such as old furniture, appliances and household waste free of charge. Yard debris is eligible for removal during this cleanup.
Only residents in the designated cleanup area can participate in the neighborhood cleanup. All items for pick up should be at the curb by 7 a.m. Items left at the curb outside of the cleanup area will not be collected.
Items eligible for removal include:
- Household appliances and electronics
- Household junk and debris
- Bicycles and toys
- Old furniture and mattresses
- Barbecue grills
- Household hazardous waste (old paint, motor oil, chemicals, batteries)
- Tires (limit 10 per household)
Items not eligible for removal include:
- Building materials (concrete, bricks, blocks, roofing, drywall or lumber)
- Explosives or ammunition
- Auto parts
- Dirt or sod
- Vehicles or vessels
- 55-gallon drums of fluids
Since 2016, more than 7,435 tons (16,393,574 pounds) of waste have been disposed of through the Community Redevelopment Agency’s Safe Neighborhood Program. During neighborhood cleanups, crew members and volunteers visit different neighborhoods in the county to remove a variety of debris and waste free of charge.
Monday Is Special Election Voter Registration Deadline
March 2, 2025
Monday is the deadline to register for the April 1 Special General Election to fill the Congressional seat vacated Matt Gaetz
The election is open to registered voters of all political parties.
If you have a Florida Driver’s License you can register online at RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov prior to 11:00 p.m. CST on Monday.
Physical applications can be downloaded from EscambiaVotes.gov. The applications are also available at many locations around the county. For a complete list, visit https://escambiavotes.gov/nvra-locations. Mail or deliver applications to the Supervisor of Elections main office at 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor, Pensacola. Applications are also available at the office. If you are mailing an application to register to vote or change your party affiliation, it must be postmarked by March 3.
Century Man Charged By Atmore Police After Allegedly Swallowing Drug Evidence
March 2, 2025
A traffic stop on Highway 21 led to the arrest of a Century man after he attempted to swallow evidence, according to Atmore Police.
On February 26, around 7:55 p.m., an officer pulled over a vehicle for an expired license plate and identified the driver as 57-year-old Fred Ward. During the stop on Highway 21, the officer noticed Ward’s suspicious behavior and requested to search the vehicle.
APD said a search revealed multiple Kratom pills. As the officer attempted to take Ward into custody, he grabbed a pill that had fallen on the ground and swallowed it despite being ordered not to, according to Sgt. Darrell McMann.
Ward was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance and tampering with physical evidence. He was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton.
Veterans Outreach Events Planned In Davisville And Molino
March 2, 2025
The Escambia County Veterans Services Office will hold two upcoming public meetings in North Escambia to give veterans a chance to discuss benefits with an accredited veterans services officer.
Assistance is provided on a first-come, first-served basis at no charge. No appointment is required.
Meetings will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates at community centers in North Escambia:
- Friday, March 14: Davisville Community Center, 10200 Highway 97 in Davisville
- Wednesday, April 9: Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95A in Molino.
Escambia County Veterans Services Office staff members will be available to help with topics including reviewing VA benefits, filing a VA claim, and reevaluating VA disability.
For more information, contact the Veterans Services Office at (850) 595-2409 or email VSO@myescambia.com. Learn more about Escambia County’s Veterans Services Office at MyEscambia.com/veterans-services.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.