Free One-Day Local Disaster Preparedness Class This Saturday In Century
April 30, 2025
Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE) is offering a new resource to help Escambia County residents prepare for hurricanes and other disasters.
Through the EscaReady Disaster Preparedness Essentials Program, BRACE will provide free, one-day classes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., helping those who want to feel more prepared for natural disasters. Each participating family will receive a tote bag of disaster supplies, and a drawing will be held for two $25 gas cards in each class.
The first of six EscaReady classes will be held this Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Century Community Center at West Highway 4 and Industrial Boulevard. Other classes will be held the first Saturday of every month from June through October at various locations across Escambia County. Breakfast snacks will be provided, and participants are encouraged to pack a lunch.
The EscaReady course, which includes a take home workbook to keep helpful information, will provide information on how to get services after a disaster, important safety information for hurricanes, tornadoes and floods as well as vital skills such as understanding weather alerts, generator safety, flood recovery tips, important financial steps for disasters and more. Highlighting the work of members of the Escambia County Long-Term Recovery Group, the program aims to train 180 families, delivering critical information for both new residents and longtime community members.
For more information on the EscaReady program or for other training opportunities, call BRACE at (850) 739-3983.
Miller, Wahoos Walk Their Way to 3-2 Win Over Barons
April 30, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos began their longest road trip of the season with an unusual 3-2 win over the Birmingham Barons on Tuesday night.
The Blue Wahoos (16-6) drew a season-high 11 walks, but managed only two hits and went 0-for-11 with men in scoring position against a stingy Barons (11-10) pitching staff. In the end, the Jake Thompson delivered a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the ninth inning that proved to be the difference as the Blue Wahoos improved upon the best record in Double-A.
In the early innings, Pensacola starter Jacob Miller was the star. The righty was perfect through 4.1 innings and faced the minimum through 6.0 innings, ultimately becoming the first Blue Wahoos pitcher in 2025 to pitch into the seventh inning.
The Blue Wahoos couldn’t fully capitalize on the wildness of Barons starter Hagen Smith, but scratched across a run on a bases-loaded walk to Sam Praytor in the fourth inning and added another on a Josh Zamora sacrifice fly in the fifth.
The Barons manufactured a rally against Miller in the seventh, getting a leadoff infield single from Rikuu Nishida and an RBI double from William Bergolla to get on the board. A one-out RBI single from Wilfred Veras tied the game, but reliever Josh White (W, 4-0) stranded the potential go-ahead run in scoring position as he escaped the jam.
Praytor led off the top of the ninth with a leadoff single against Tyler Davis (L, 0-3), just the second Pensacola hit of the night. Shane Sasaki followed with a walk, and both runners advanced on a Jared Serna groundout before Thompson lifted his sacrifice fly to left field for a 3-2 Blue Wahoos lead.
Dale Stanavich (S, 4) worked around a leadoff hit batsman in the bottom of the ninth to earn his league-leading fourth save.
The Blue Wahoos return to action on Wednesday morning as they play an Education Day game against the Barons. First pitch from Regions Field is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.
Shots Fired Outside Century Apartment Complex; Woman Suffers Minor Injury
April 29, 2025
A shots-fired incident in Century on Monday night remains under investigation.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, a group of people was gathered outside the Century Woods Apartments at 20 West Highway 4 when at least one shot was fired around 8:50 p.m.
Deputies arrived to find an adult female with an apparent graze wound to the top of her shoulder. She refused medical treatment.
The ECSO said much of the crowd dispersed quickly, and deputies received conflicting statements with little cooperation from the remaining witnesses. A suspect was not located.
Deputies returned to the apartment complex Tuesday seeking additional clues and evidence.
The incident remains under investigation.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Two Year, $4.7 Million Highway 29 Reconstruction Safety Project In Century Is Now Complete
April 29, 2025
After just over two years, a $4.7 million state safety project to resurface Highway 29 in Century is now complete, the Florida Department of Transportation said on Monday.
The FDOT project included a major reconstruction and realignment of Highway 29 from just south of East Highway 4 to the Alabama state line.
FDOT also upgraded traffic signals, drainage structures, pavement markings, and driveways, while also improving curb ramps and sidewalks to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
The project included reconstructing a 700-foot curved segment of Highway 29 from north of Henry Street to Cottage Street — a curve that was the site of several truck accidents in recent years.
The first lane closures for the project occurred in late January 2023, with four lanes reduced to one lane in each direction for most of the project.
Pictured: Traffic flows on all four lanes of Highway 29 in Century during a construction project on February 20. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Walnut Hill Ruritan Club Donates Building To Ernest Ward FFA Program
April 29, 2025
The Walnut Hill Ruritan Club, with the help of Circle E Buildings in Walnut Hill, recently donated and installed a brand-new building for the Ernest Ward Middle School FFA program. The project, coordinated by Brian Davis, will be officially dedicated soon.
Celebration 100 Years: Goodyear Blimp Spotted Over Molino
April 29, 2025
This year is the 100th anniversary of the original Goodyear Blimp.
The blimp known as Wingfoot Two was spotted over Molino on Monday afternoon. According to flight tracking date, the blimp left New Orleans Monday after a weekend hovering over the Zurich Classic golf tournament.
The first Goodyear Blimp to take flight was Pilgrim in 1925.
Today, there are three Goodyear blimps based in the United States:
- Wingfoot One: Based near Akron, Ohio (near the Goodyear headquarters).
- Wingfoot Two: Based near Fort Lauderdale, Florida (at the Pompano Beach Airpark).
- Wingfoot Three: Based near Los Angeles, California (in Carson).
A fourth blimp is based near Essen, Germany, and is known as the Europe Blimp.
Picture: The Goodyear Blimp Wingfoot Two over Molino on Monday afternoon. Photos by Michael Miller and Keith Garrison for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High Names 2025 Prom Royalty
April 29, 2025
The 2025 Tate High School Prom was held Saturday night. Prom court members included (pictured above) King Aiden Maher, Queen Hailey Locke, (pictured below) Prince Carson Hindsman and Princess Taylor Dyer. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Electrical Fire Destroys Home Near Nine Mile Road; No Injuries Reported
April 29, 2025
An electrical issue is being blamed for a Sunday night fire that destroyed a home just north of Nine Mile Road.
Escambia County Fire Rescue responded around 10 p.m. to the 9500 block of Hummingbird Boulevard, where they found heavy flames and smoke coming from the garage of a single-story brick house.
All residents and pets escaped without injury, according to ECFR. The home was declared a total loss, and the cause was determined to be electrical.
The American Red Cross is assisting the displaced occupants with temporary housing.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FPL Proposes Laydown Yard Near McDavid
April 29, 2025
Florida Power & Light is proposing a seven-acre laydown yard primarily for pole storage off Camp Road in McDavid.
According to plans filed with the Escambia County Development Review Committee, the laydown yard would be located on about seven acres of an octagonal-shaped 48.65-acre parcel already owned by FPL. It is about a half mile south of an Escambia County Road Camp and the closed Camp 5 Landfill.
FPL also owns all of the adjacent parcels and those across Camp Road — the former Gulf Power, later acquired by FPL, purchased hundreds of acres beginning in 2009 for a potential nuclear power plant, but those plans never materialized.
The laydown yard, if approved, would be served to a new 30-foot gravel access road from Camp Road. The utility said the site will operate from 6 a.m. until 3 p.m. with no overnight vehicles on site.
The FPL plans are undergoing DRC internal staff review and have not yet been set for a public meeting.
NorthEscambia.com graphics, click to enlarge.
Casey’s Updates Plans For New Convenience Store At Highway, Highway 97 In Molino
April 28, 2025
Updated plans have been filed for a new convenience store at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino.
Costcorde, Inc. of Houston recently submitted the plans to the Escambia County Development Review Committee (DRC).
The updated plans show a 4,569 square foot convenience store, 12 gas fueling stations and two diesel fueling payments. According to the plans, there will only be right turn in and right turn out access on Highway 29 and a full access connection to Highway 97.
Casey’s is the third largest convenience store and fifth largest pizza chain in the United States. Last year, Casey’s announced the acquisition of Fikes Wholesale, owner of CEFCO Convenience Stores, in an all-cash transaction for $1.145 billion for 198 stores.
The plans are undergoing DRC internal staff review and have not yet been set for a public meeting.
Plans were filed for a convenience store in the same location back in 2017 and 2019 by an Atmore company, but those projects were never finalized. The new store will be across Highway 97 from an existing Cumberland Farms store that is still operating under Tom Thumb branding.
NorthEscambia.com graphics, click to enlarge.
