Molino Park’s Solchenberger Named Elementary Math Teacher Of The Year
May 10, 2025
Molino Park Elementary School teacher Jennifer Solchenberger was named the Escambia County Council of Teachers of Mathematics (ECCTM) Elementary Math Teacher of the Year. She teaches fourth grade math and science at Molino Park. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Rained Out Tate Aggies Crimson And Gray Game Postponed Until Monday
May 10, 2025
Tate High School’s Crimson and Gray Game was rained out Friday night and has been postponed until Monday at 5:30 p.m.
Don’t have a ticket? They are available on GoFan.
The Tate Quarterback Club will be selling pizza, chips and drinks. All proceeds from concessions and the Aggie Shack will go directly back to the program.
Wahoos, Biloxi Set For Saturday Twin Bill After Friday Rain Postponement
May 10, 2025
Friday’s scheduled game at Keesler Federal Park between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Biloxi Shuckers has been postponed due to rain.
The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Saturday, May 10, with two seven-inning games beginning at 5:05 p.m.Game two will begin approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.
Century Lifts Boil Water Notice
May 10, 2025
UPDATE: THIS BOIL WATER NOTICE WAS LIFTED FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
A boil water notice has been issued for Town of Century Water System customers on Front Street, East Hecker Road, Kelly Field Road, Pinewood Avenue, Mayo Street, Church Street, Lodge Drive and Wood Street.
There was a water outage in the area on Wednesday during repairs of a fire hydrant on Front Street. Bacteriological sampling will be performed on Thursday, and the town anticipates lifting the boil water notice on Friday. This story will be updated when the boil water notice is lifted.
As a precaution, the town advises 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. Residents are also advised to take precautions when bathing, especially immunocompromised individuals, infants, or the elderly.
A loss in system pressure could cause back siphonage of contaminants, such as e. coli bacteria, into the water system. water containing E. coli bacteria can be considered safe for drinking and cooking after vigorously boiling the water. Disease symptoms caused by these bacteria may include diarrhea, cramps, nausea, and possibly jaundice, and any associated headache and fatigue. EPA has set an enforceable drinking water standard for e. coli to reduce the risk of these adverse health effects. Under this standard all drinking water must be free of these bacteria.
The water system is currently collecting samples to determine if the presence of E. coli bacteria exists within the water system. 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.
Atmore Teen Arrested For Two Shooting Incidents; Search Continues For Others
May 9, 2025
Atmore Police have arrested a 17-year-old male and charged him as an adult in connection with two separate shooting incidents. The arrest follows an investigation into a Wednesday night shooting that struck a passing vehicle and a local restaurant, and a second shooting on April 26 targeting a residence.
About 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, Atmore officers responded to the area of North Main and Howard Street following reports of shots fired into a passing vehicle. The Wing & Burger Box restaurant on the northeast corner of the intersection was also hit by gunfire. No injuries were reported.
Responding officers recovered a significant amount of evidence at the scene, collecting 47 spent shell casings believed to be from two different caliber firearms.
During the course of their investigation into the May 7 shooting, investigators were able to identify four suspects. The 17-year-old juvenile was subsequently arrested and has been charged as an adult with attempted murder, discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle, and discharging a firearm into an unoccupied building. Due to his age and in accordance with Alabama state statutes, his name is not being released at this time. Following his arrest, he was transported to the Escambia County (Alabama) Detention Center.
Authorities have also issued arrest warrants for three additional suspects in connection with the Wednesday night shooting. One of these individuals is a juvenile, while the other two are adults. Law enforcement is actively searching for these three suspects
Further investigation by Atmore Police linked the same 17-year-old juvenile to a separate shooting incident that occurred on April 26. In that event, multiple shots were fired into a residence located in the 300 block of East School Street. In relation to this shooting, the juvenile has been charged with attempted murder and discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling.
Investigators have also signed arrest warrants for two additional juvenile suspects allegedly involved in the East School Street shooting.
The Atmore Police Department continues to investigate both incidents and is asking for the public’s assistance in locating the outstanding suspects. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Atmore Police at (251) 368-9141.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Man Charged With DUI Manslaughter After Fatal Escambia County Crash
May 9, 2025
An Orange Beach man has been charged with DUI manslaughter after a fatal crash early Friday morning in Escambia County.
Wyatt Cole Watson, 20, was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Watson was traveling east on Highway 98 around 1:35 a.m. when he failed to maintain his lane and traveled the wrong way into oncoming traffic, causing a head-on collision, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The driver of the second vehicle was pronounced deceased.
Watson was airlifted to a local hospital and later booked into the Escambia County Jail where he is being held without bond.
One Charged As ECSO Closes Cantonment Drug House
May 9, 2025
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office says they have closed a Cantonment drug house.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant in the 200 block of Cayden Way, in the Graystone subdivision just east of Nowak Road. The search warrant resulted in the seizure of a significant quantity of drugs and firearms.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, deputies conducting the search located approximately 64 grams of cocaine, over 800 grams of marijuana, and 34 grams of an substance identified as spice. In addition to the narcotics, two firearms and other drug paraphernalia were recovered. Over $500 in cash was also found at the location.
Following the search, Bruce Lamar Gibbs, 46, was charged with trafficking in cocaine; possession of marijuana with intent to sell, manufacture, or deliver; possession of synthetic cannabinoids; and possession of drug paraphernalia. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Lady Aggies Slip To Horizon In Regional Quarterfinals
May 9, 2025
In the 6A FHSAA Softball Regional Quarterfinals, the Tate Lady Aggies slipped 8-6 to the Horizon Hawks Thursday night in Winter Garden.
In three and one-third innings, Jordan Smith surrendered eight runs (half earned) on six hits, walking one and striking out four. Peyton Womack went two and two-thirds innings, surrendering one hit and no runs while striking out four and walking one.
Mykamia Padgett had three RBIs for the Lady Aggie as she went 1-3 for the night. Kara Wine, Kaylie Mitchell, Kinzlee Biggs, and Amburleigh Laird each added one hit.
The Aggies ended their season at 8-15. Horizon will advance to the semifinals to take on Navarre next week.
In other local area action, Pace shut out Fletcher 11-0 and will host Oakleaf on May 13 in the semis.
Pictured: The Tate Lady Aggies Thursday night in Winter Park, Florida. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Set To Begin $1.3 Million In Water Meter Upgrade Project
May 9, 2025
The Town of Century is about to undertake a $1.3 million water meter and service line project.
Thursday morning, the town’s engineering firm held a pre-construction conference meeting with the contractor and town staff to review the project prior to a tentative start day of May 27. Competition is expected by late March 2026.
A $1,301,892 grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Grant will be used to replace all of Century’s approximately 825 existing commercial and residential water meters, moving from a manual read system to a radio reporting system.
Customers may experience a water outage of about 30 minutes when their meter is replaced; the town aims to notify customers before their replacement date. No work will be done on the customers’ side of the meter, other than the actual connection.
The existing meters were installed as a radio read system in 2011, but the system has long since failed and the meters are read manually each month.
The project will include replacement of all commercial and residential water service lines from the main to the customer connection. This includes connection to the water main, new service lines under the road (if required), and replacement of the meter box and all its contents including a new water meter.
Through an interlocal agreement, the Escambia County will use the state grant to reimburse Century for the project.
Pictured: A pre-construction meeting was held Thursday morning in Century for an upcoming water meter and service line replacement project. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Florida Appeals Court Upholds 30-Year Sentence For Armed Century Drug Trafficker
May 9, 2025
The Florida First District Court of Appeal this week rejected a Century man’s claim that his 30-year state prison sentence was illegal.
In 2023, it took an Escambia County jury less than an hour to find Kendrick Jamar Washington guilty of trafficking in cocaine, carrying an unlicensed concealed firearm and carrying a concealed firearm while trafficking in cocaine.
Prosecuting attorney Christopher Patterson argued, “Armed drug traffickers must be held accountable for profiting from the pain and misery they inflict upon our community.”
In his appeal, Washington claimed his sentence was illegal because he was sentenced as a habitual offender rather than under sentencing guidelines for the amount of cocaine he had. He asserted that offenders can’t be sentenced as a repeat offender for possessing drugs.
On June 24, 2022, Washington allegedly pointed “an assault rifle” at his sister and threatened to kill her, according to an arrest report. She headed to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Century Precinct to file a report.
During the investigation, deputies were alerted of an armed disturbance on Ashford Alley off Jefferson Avenue and detained Washington. A .38 Special revolver and a Del-Ton rifle were recovered from Washington, along with a .223 round in the chamber, 13 rounds in the magazine of the rifle and five rounds in his pocket, according to an arrest report.
Deputies located over 98 grams of cocaine in Washington’s right pocket and a loaded .38 caliber revolver in his left pocket, according to court documents. A total of $4,642 in currency was found on Washington’s person, deputies said.
Washington is currently incarcerated at Gulf Correctional Institution in Wewahitchka.