Escambia Commission Approves Ordinance Banning Data Centers, Starting Process For Moratorium
August 7, 2026
The Escambia County Commission is making it abundantly clear — data centers are not welcome or allowed in the county.
On Thursday night, the commission approved an ordinance banning large-scale data centers in the unincorporated areas of Escambia County outside the City of Pensacola and the Town of Century. And, the commissioners started the legal process to also implement a moratorium.
The actions came on the heels of a resolution approved in late July that officially memorializes the county’s position that data center facilities are not permitted under the County’s Land Development Code and are not an appropriate form of development within the unincorporated area of Escambia County.
William Nelson, county attorney designate, said the ordinance was acceptable, but not required, to clearly ban data centers.
“In my opinion, the cleanest thing to do is to continue to use the Land Development Code because it prohibits these activities because they are not specifically included in the code,” he said.
‘It’s just not permitted, and I think the problem is if we start trying to define this ourselves, then we are going to have problems,” Commissioner Steve Stroberger said.
“I think that is correct,” Nelson responded. “When we get into some of these definitions, the very technical aspects of this are unclear.”
Commissioner Mike Kohler called for approval of the ordinance and a moratorium on data centers, with other commissioners concurring.
“If that is what is going to take to ensure an additional blanket level for our community, I don’t have an issue with that,” District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said.
“It’s banned, clearly, because the Land Development Code does not allow for it,” Commissioner Lumon May, who cast the lone vote against the resolution, said. “It’s banned. So when we say we are going to do a moratorium, well you’ve lessened the ban. Just be consistent with what we have already been doing.”
Nelson said a moratorium would require two noticed public hearings before a vote, and was not an available option for Thursday night’s action.
At a future meeting, the commission will vote on advertising the two public hearings in order to vote on a data center moratorium.
Server rooms or small data centers would be allowed “where they are an accessory use like at a Navy federal, or UWF, or a hospital. Those are already going to be allowed because they are accessory uses. The county has a server room.”
Free Movie Night Tonight At Carver Park In Cantonment
August 7, 2026
The Cantonment Improvement Committee will host a movie night tonight, Friday, August 7, at Carver Park, 208 Webb Street.
The evening begins at 7:30 p.m., and the movie “Zootopia 2″ starts at 8 p.m. Snacks and drinks will be provided.
Children must be accompanied by an adult, and attendees are encouraged to bring their own blankets or chairs.
Image courtesy Walt Disney Studios.
Back To School Events On Saturday
August 7, 2026
Back to school events will be taking place in North Escambia on Saturday.
Quintette Community Center
The Quintette Community Center will host a Back-to-School Giveaway on Saturday, August 8 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Backpack and supplies giveaway while supplies last. The child must be present. Fun activities, food, and drinks, and games at the Quintette Community Center, 2490 Quintette Lane in Cantonment.
First Baptist Church of Cottage Hill
The First Baptist Church of Cottage Hill will host a Back to School Bash on Saturday, August 8 from 10 a.m. until noon. Waterslides, backpack giveaways, refreshments, and more. The church is located at 230 Williams Ditch Road in Cottage Hill.
Beulah Chapel Back-to-School Community Fun Day – Byrneville
Beulah Chapel Assembly of God will host a Back-to-School Community Fun Day on Saturday, August 8 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at 2311 Highway 4A in Century. The day of fun, food, and community features a waterslide, kickball, a cookout, and back-to-school grab bags for kids.
USPS Says Century, McDavid, Walnut Hill Mail Delivery Issues Resolved After Staffing Shortage
August 7, 2026
The U.S. Postal Service said on Thursday afternoon that delivery problems that plagued local residents have been resolved, and mail is once again being delivered.
Numerous residents in the 32535 (Century) and 32568 (McDavid and Walnut Hill) ZIP codes reached out to NorthEscambia.com to complain that they were not receiving any mail or packages, despite the USPS Informed Delivery Service indicating they were supposed to have incoming mail. Many of those residents were in the Pineville Road area, west of Walnut Hill near the Perdido River.
“The Postal Service strives to provide the outstanding service that our customers expect and deserve,” USPS Strategic Communications Specialist Tiffany Rowland told NorthEscambia.com by email. “Regarding mail delivery in Century and McDavid, local postal officials report recently experiencing a temporary staffing issue which has been resolved.”
As for residents’ concerns about not receiving tailpieces that show in the Informed Delivery service, she said sometimes that takes a few days.
“Many customers use a free feature, Informed Delivery, which provides images of incoming mail and status updates on packages. We remind customers that these daily notifications show items which are due to arrive soon, but not necessarily on that same day,” Rowland said. “Additionally, although our carriers strive to make delivery at a consistent time of day, occasionally mail and package volumes can fluctuate, which may result in a later delivery time.”
“Local postal management will continue to closely monitor operations and focus on providing our customers with the service they expect. We offer a sincere apology for any inconvenience that may have been experienced and appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding,” she added, saying that Postal customers are encouraged to reach out with any questions or concerns, either by calling a manager or supervisor at their local Post Office, by calling 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777), from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Central time Monday through Friday or 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. Central time on Saturday, or visiting www.usps.com.
Walnut Hill (32568) customers should not call the Walnut Hill Post Office at Escambia River Electric Cooperative; instead, they should contact the main McDavid Post Office. The Walnut Hill Post Office is a contract Post Office and does not process mail for route carriers.
To learn more about Informed Delivery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Pilot Emily Shelton Honored With Sheriff’s Medal After I-10 Emergency Landing
August 7, 2026
Flight instructor Emily Shelton was awarded the Sheriff’s Medal on Thursday, following her successful emergency landing on I-10 near 9th Avenue earlier in the week.
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons presented the award to the 21-year-old pilot for her exceptional airmanship and composure under pressure. On Monday, Shelton was conducting a flight lesson when an emergency forced her to land the Piper aircraft directly onto the interstate lanes, swooping under a highway sign and avoiding traffic.
“Thanks to her quick thinking, training, and professionalism, she safely landed the aircraft and prevented what could have been a much more serious incident,” the ECSO said in a statement. “Join us in congratulating, Emily, on this well-deserved recognition, and thank you for your outstanding airmanship and composure in a challenging situation.”
According to flight tracking data (pictured bottom, click to enlarge), the plane departed the airport in Pensacola before flying north into the North Escambia area and looping around Barrineau Park.
Tate Lady Aggies Host Back To School Camp (Gallery)
August 7, 2026
The Tate Lady Aggies held a Back to School Camp this week, giving campers a chance to learn and improve their skills while having fun.
The three-hour camp was for players 8 years old through eighth grade.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Beat The Montgomery Biscuits
August 7, 2026
Eliazar Dishmey and Nigel Belgrave authored a masterpiece for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Thursday night, taking a combined no-hitter through 8.2 innings in a 4-1 win over the Montgomery Biscuits.
One out away from the fourth no-hitter in Blue Wahoos franchise history and just the second at Blue Wahoos Stadium, Biscuits top prospect Theo Gillen hit an opposite-field solo homer to break up the no-hit bid and spoil the celebration.
Dishmey (W, 3-1), who had twice before taken a no-hitter through five innings in his first 10 Double-A starts, tied a professional career high with 10 strikeouts. He allowed three baserunners, with Gregory Barrios reaching on a Dishmey error in the third inning for Montgomery’s nearest chance at a hit.
Brendan Jones carried the Pensacola offense with a two-run homer in the first inning and a solo homer in the sixth for his second multi-homer game of the season. Biscuits starter K.C. Hunt (L, 1-1) allowed just the Jones homer over 5.0 innings in a tough-luck loss.
Belgrave (S, 6) took over the game in the seventh inning and worked around a walk to take the no-hitter into the ninth. A strikeout of Caden Bodine was followed by a routine flyout off the bat of Cooper Kinney to put Pensacola on the precipice of history. On a 1-0 pitch, Gillen lifted a fly ball just beyond the left field wall for his eighth Double-A homer and second in as many nights.
Belgrave rebounded to strike out Will Simpson and end the combined one-hitter, the 16th in Blue Wahoos history and the second this season. Of the sixteen, it was the third taken to the ninth inning with a no-hitter intact and the first to end one out away from securing the feat.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Friday.
‘Blindsided’ – Century Council Members Balk At Water, Wastewater Contract Over Lack Of Information
August 6, 2026
Blindsided.
That’s how Century Town Council President Dynette Lewis described a five-year, $17,410 per month contract with a company to run the town’s water and wastewater treatment facilities.
This week, the entire council balked at signing the contract, not because they disagreed with mayor’s recommendation to hire the company, but because council members never saw the contract and really didn’t know what was happening.
Mayor Ben Boutwell requested approval of the contract with Clearwater Solutions, the company that has provided the services for years. Council members only received a one-page proposal in advance of the meeting and have yet to see the actual contract with all of its terms and conditions.
“It’s unfortunate that we are just hearing about this, and we were not given anything that we were able to read over this and come to an understanding on the agreement prior to this meeting,” Lewis said. “That’s basically an element of surprise at a meeting.”
She said she did not see the immediacy of a vote this week, but Boutwell, who attended the meeting by phone, said a contract would lower the month-to-month payment from $20,000 to the $17,410 per month.
Council member John Bass interjected that he believed the town missed a step and the council was not informed.
Back in April, the council voted to end an expiring contract with Clearwater and directly hire two Clearwater employees, one as a contractor and one as an operator.
The mayor said both individuals are still running Century’s water and wastewater systems, but they still work for Clearwater, and they were hired on paper but never actually went to work for the town due to a Clearwater agreement.
“I feel it’s interesting that we didn’t hear anything about it until now,” Lewis said, “at a particular time we have a proposal placed in front of us at the meeting.”
“I don’t want to vote on this because I don’t feel like I have enough information,” Shelisa Abraham said. “I would like to be able to compare the old one (contract) to this one. I did not appreciate us approving to hire people, and we find out (differently) at the meeting and are expected to give a decision tonight. We haven’t had time to get details or make a well-informed decision.”
With recent rate increases, Century can afford the Clearwater contract, Boutwell said, describing the company as a “great partner for the last several years.” The council agreed, but opposed taken action without reviewing the contract.
Following a unanimous vote to table action on the Clearwater contract, Lewis said, “It seems like we should have somebody in place that should be providing these issues where we’re not basically blindsided like this.”
The town council is expected to consider the contract again at their next meeting on August 25.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Injured In Apparent Accidental Wednesday Night Shooting
August 6, 2026
An adult male suffered an apparent accidental gunshot wound on Wednesday night in Cantonment.
The shooting was reported around 10:15 p.m. on Calloway Street, south of Booker Street. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said the man suffered a gunshot wound to his side.
The man, reportedly in his 50s, was transported to an area hospital.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Remains Of Pfc. Joseph Chancery Return Home After 75 Years Missing In Action
August 6, 2026
After more than 75 years listed as missing in action, U.S. Army Pfc. Joseph “Dile” Chancery returned home on Thursday, arriving at Pensacola International Airport. From there, he wasescorted by the Patriot Guard and law enforcement to a Mobile funeral home as his family and community prepare to honor the fallen hero.
Identified through advanced forensic analysis by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), the Brewton, Alabama native who fell during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in 1950 will finally receive full military honors.
Born June 26, 1930, in Brewton, Chancery was one of 12 children born to George Leonard Chancery and Martha Jane Posten Chancery in rural Escambia County. He entered the Army from Alabama, serving with Battery A, 57th Field Artillery Battalion, 7th Infantry Division.
On November 28, 1950, during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, Chancery’s unit came under overwhelming attack by Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces near the P’ungnyuri Inlet on the eastern side of the reservoir. Amid sub-zero temperatures, the soldiers engaged in brutal, hand-to-hand combat to defend their artillery positions. Chancery was reported killed in action, but because the fallen could not be recovered due to the intense fighting, he was classified as Missing in Action.
In 1954, following Operation GLORY, unidentified service members were returned to the United States. Unidentified remains were later interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (the “Punchbowl”) in Honolulu. On March 29, 2021, a set of remains was exhumed as part of DPAA’s Korean War Disinterment Project. Using DNA analysis provided by his family, alongside anthropological and dental evidence, scientists positively identified Chancery on March 24, 2026.
Though his parents and all 11 siblings passed away before his return, a new generation of nieces and nephews is fulfilling the promise to bring him home.
During his service, Pfc. Chancery earned the following decorations:
- Purple Heart
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- National Defense Service Medal
- Korean Service Medal with three bronze service stars
- Presidential Unit Citation (Navy)
- United Nations Service Medal
- Republic of Korea Korean War Service Medal
- Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
The public is invited to attend upcoming memorial events:
Purple Heart Presentation: Friday, August 7, 2026, at the Daphne Civic Center during the “Saluting Our Nation’s Purple Heart Recipients” ceremony.
Funeral Service: Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Lottie United Methodist Church Cemetery near Atmore, Alabama, featuring Full Military Funeral Honors. He will be laid to rest alongside his parents and two siblings. A public luncheon will follow at the Lottie Volunteer Fire Department.