Ernest Ward Middle School Honors Veterans (With Photo Gallery)
November 8, 2025
Ernest Ward Middle School held its annual Veterans Day program Friday, honoring veterans in the community.
The program featured the presentation of colors by the Northview High School NJROTC; patriotic music; drama presentations; a memory table; and a “Tribute to the Armed Services” with the Patriot Guard.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The annual Veterans Day program at Ernest Ward is a longstanding community tradition, held annually (except in 2020) for over a quarter century.
NorthEscambia.com photos; click to enlarge.
Hundreds Attend Byrneville Elementary Fall Festival (With Photo Gallery)
November 8, 2025
Hundreds of people attended the annual Byrneville Elementary Fall Festival Friday evening at the school.
The event, organized by the Byrneville PTO, was packed with family-friendly fun, games, and fall festivities. Festival-goers enjoyed an array of activities, including carnival rides, rock climbing, inflatables and more. Attendees tested their skills at games such as bull riding and a cake walk. The event also featured a haunted house, face painting, vendors, and a basket auction.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The festival is a major fundraiser for Byrneville Elementary, with all proceeds supporting school programs and resources.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview’s Riley Brooks Signs With Coastal Alabama
November 8, 2025
Northview High School senior Riley Brooks signed Friday to play softball at Coastal Alabama Community College.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Playoffs: Flomaton Shut Out By Montgomery; Escambia Academy Beats Snook
November 8, 2025
Here a look at first round playoff action Friday night from South Alabama.
Montgomery Academy 42, Flomaton 0
The Flomaton Hurricanes fell to the Montgomery Academy Eagles 42-0 Friday night in Montgomery in the first round of the AHSAA 3A playoffs.
The Eagles came out strong, scoring 21 points in the first quarter followed by 21 points in the second before a scoreless third and fourth quarters.
Flomaton’s first season under new head coach Jayce Gandy ended at 6-5.
Escambia Academy 56, Snook Christian 8
The Escambia Academy Cougars defeated the Snook Christian Academy Eagles 56-8 Friday night in Canoe in the first round of the AISA Eight-Man Playoff quarterfinals.
After Snook scored eight points in the first quarter, the Cougars held the Eagles scoreless for the remainder of the game.
With the win the Cougars advance to host Cornerstone Christian.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Two Children Killed In Mobile Home Fire In Escambia County; Three Others Injured
November 7, 2025
An early morning fire claimed the lives of two children and a pet in Escambia County.
The fully involved mobile home fire was reported shortly before 1 a.m. at Grand Oak Mobile Home Park on Flaxman Street, in the block behind the Escambia High School campus.
“Upon arriving on scene, heavy flames and smoke engulfed a single-wide mobile home, with reports of two children inside the home. Due to the severity of the fire, ECFR immediately began firefighting efforts so firefighters could enter the home. Upon making entry, two children and one dog were found deceased,” ECFR said in a statement.
Additionally, Escambia County EMS provided on-scene care to two adults and one pediatric patient, who were evaluated and taken to area hospitals with fire-related injuries.
ECFR was dispatched to the fire at approximately 12:48 a.m. Friday, Nov. 7. Firefighters and Escambia County EMS arrived on scene at 12:56 a.m. and the fire was extinguished by 1:17 a.m. The home is a total loss as a result of the fire.
The Florida Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosives is investigating the cause of the fire with assistance from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
File photo.
Highway 97 Head-on Crash Claims One Life In Walnut Hill
November 7, 2025
A head-on collision claimed one life Thursday night on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill.
The crash happened on Highway 97 just north of South Highway 99. Two sedans, both in the southbound lane of Highway 97, collided head-on about 7:50 p.m.
Both drivers were airlifted to a Pensacola hospital where one, an adult female, was pronounced deceased.
Highway 97 was closed for hours by the crash.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released further details.
NorthEscambia.com is withholding photos of the vehicles involved until next of kin notification is made by FHP
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Awards $1.2 Million Contract For Oversight Of Century Shelter Project
November 7, 2025
Escambia County has awarded a contract for oversight of construction of a multipurpose facility that will also serve as a shelter during hurricane in Century.
The Town of Century was awarded $10 million in a Florida Department of Commerce’s Rebuild Florida grant to turn the old Century High School gym property into a multipurpose facility that will also serve as a shelter during hurricanes or other disasters. Escambia County is administering and managing the project and funds.
Thursday night, the Escambia County Commission approved a $1,182,900 contract with QSC Services, LLC. for the owner’s representative and construction, engineering, and inspection (CEI) Services
“It has good bones,” Century Mayor Ben Boutwell said last month as NorthEscambia.com was along for a tour of the existing building. “With a steel frame and solid brick and concrete construction, it will make a good shelter.”
For more photos from our October tour, click here.
County staff said that the building appears to be structurally sound enough to meet the requirements for a hurricane shelter, and that will be confirmed by a structural engineer. The existing building will be gutted and slightly expanded during construction. It is expected to include a multipurpose area that will have uses including meeting space, shelter space, and indoor sports such as basketball. There will be other amenities including a kitchen and a generator.
The town does not own the old gym, which was constructed in 1960; it belongs to Pensacola State College, though the town had been working to have PSC deed the gym property to Century. Once an environmental study is completed, PSC will deed the property to the county at no cost.
Time and vandals have ravaged the former Blackcats’ gym. The windows have been smashed out of all the doors, and many of the gym windows are broken, with damage to the parquet wood floor—all of which is slated for replacement. Vandals have stripped all of the HVAC units and copper wiring. The Blackcats logo is still visible on the wall over the basketball court.
Behind the gym, remaining bleachers and press box, which was damaged by a tornado in 2016, are currently set to be removed for safety reasons. The football field will remain as a youth sports field.
Pictured: Officials toured the old Century High School gym on on October 23, 2025. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pictured: Officials toured the old Century High School gym on Thursday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Walnut Hill Traffic Stop Turns Into Busts On Drug, Weapon Charges
November 7, 2025
What started as a routine traffic stop near Walnut Hill turned into a drug bust on Thursday.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies pulled over a vehicle at Highway 164 and Highway 97. During the traffic stop, the Atmore Police Department provided an assist with a K-9 that alerted on the vehicle belonging to the passenger, 35-year-old Jose Altagracia Alix, Jr.
Deputies said a search of his belongings led to the discovery of narcotics.
Alix, Jr., was charged with three counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana under 20 grams, and withholding child support.
Deputies said the driver, 21-year old Logan Michell Smith, had a loaded firearm in her purse. She was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.
Both were booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sen. Ashley Moody Asks Trump To Allow Blue Angels Homecoming Show
November 7, 2025
Florida Senator Ashley Moody has sent a letter to President Donald Trump asking that he allow the Blue Angels Homecoming Show to continue as planned a NAS Pensacola
On October 31, NAS Pensacola announced that the 2025 Homecoming Show, which was scheduled from November 14-15, had been canceled due to the federal government shutdown. The show typically has hundreds of thousands of visitors and is considered a vital part of the local and regional economy.
Click here for a pdf of Moody’s letter to Trump.
Moody’s Letter
Dear President Trump,
I would like to begin by sincerely thanking you for your steadfast commitment to rekindling American patriotism and for continually honoring the courage, dedication, and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform. Under your leadership, Americans can once again take pride in the unmatched capabilities of our nation’s Armed Forces and all our service members do to keep our country safe, free, and independent.
As you know, this year marks a remarkable milestone for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps as they celebrate their 250th anniversary of defending this nation and our freedoms.
Naval Air Station Pensacola, also known as the Cradle of Naval Aviation, has served as a vital component of our country’s military readiness mission for over 100 years. This air station is home to the world-famous U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron Blue Angels and is a point of pride for our military and the Pensacola community and surrounding Panhandle – not only through precision flying, but as a tool to boost recruitment, community outreach and morale.
Later this month, the Blue Angels were scheduled to participate in their Homecoming Air Show at Naval Air Station Pensacola. This air show is one of Pensacola’s largest events which was expected to draw over 150,000 visitors and generate millions of dollars in economic impact. However, the ongoing Democrat Shutdown has led to the event’s cancellation. Our fighter pilots, service members, and the hundreds of thousands of patriotic Americans who planned to attend should not be deprived of this meaningful tradition because of political circumstances in Washington, D.C. – especially on such a momentous anniversary.
Mr. President, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I respectfully request your consideration in issuing a directive to the Blue Angels so this premier demonstration of military skill may continue as planned.
Finally, if you grant this request and the Homecoming air show is to continue as planned, I would be honored to host you in our shared home state of Florida to recognize the tremendous impact the Blue Angels Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron has on the region and across the nation.
Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.
Sincerely,
Ashley Moody
Century Chamber Elects New VP; Preps For Seasonal Events
November 7, 2025
The Century Area Chamber of Commerce elected a vice president and held a final discussion on several upcoming events during its board meeting on Thursday.
Jennifer Johnson was elected the chamber’s new vice president by the board.
The board also discussed final preparations for upcoming seasonal events:
- Veterans Day Cookout — November 11 at 2 p.m. at Nadine McCaw Park
- Festival of Trees — decorating contest during December
- Annual Open House and Tree Lighting — December 5 at 5 p.m. at Nadine McCaw Park
- Christmas Parade — December 12 at 5 p.m.
Pictured: Thursday, Jennifer Johnson (top) was elected vice president of the Century Chamber of Commerce. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
