Small Plane Makes Emergency Landing On I-10
August 3, 2026
A small plane made an emergency landing on I-10 near 9th Avenue on Monday morning.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the pilot and a flight student reported mechanical issues that forced the emergency landing on the interstate.
“The Piper Warrior aircraft suffered engine failure during the flight, which caused the need to make the emergency landing,” FHP said in a release.
There were no injuries reported, and the plane has been removed from the travel lanes. FHP said the plane did not collide with any vehicle or object.
According to flight tracking data (pictured below, click to enlarge), the plane departed the airport in Pensacola before flying north into the North Escambia area and looping around Barrineau Park.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gunfire Incident Leads to Aggravated Assault Arrest
August 3, 2026
A Walnut Hill man was arrested following a disturbance involving gunfire off Pineville Road last month.
Ricky Eugene Foster, 56, was taken into custody by Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies and charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill.
According to an arrest report, deputies responded to a residence following reports of shots fired. Upon arrival, law enforcement encountered Foster, who smelled of alcohol and admitted to firing a handgun during a dispute.
A victim at the scene told deputies that Foster had aggressively ordered them to leave, blocked their vehicle, and pointed a handgun in their direction while making death threats. A witness also reported hearing multiple gunshots during the encounter, the report states. Foster claimed he fired the weapon straight into the air.
Foster was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
Century Man Charged Under Florida’s ‘Super Speeder’ Law At 108 MPH On I-110 In A Kia
August 3, 2026
A Century man was arrested under Florida’s “Super Speeder” law after a Florida Highway Patrol trooper clocked him traveling over 100 mph on Interstate 110 in Pensacola.
Austin Lee Clark, 24, of Century, was pulled over in the early morning hours of July 12 after a state trooper conducting stationary speed enforcement spotted his vehicle flying past traffic.
According to an arrest report, the trooper was stationed near mile marker 3 on I-110 northbound in a marked 65 mph zone when they observed a 2016 Kia Sportage moving at an extreme rate of speed. The trooper utilized a laser speed measurement device, which registered the vehicle traveling at 108 mph. The driver was observed rapidly changing lanes and passing multiple vehicles.
The trooper initiated a traffic stop, and Lee pulled over on the off-ramp to Brent Lane. When asked why he was driving so fast, Lee reportedly told the trooper he was trying to keep up with another vehicle that had passed him earlier. He then added that he was likely traveling 110 mph before the trooper clocked him.
The report stated the vehicle was towed because a female in the passenger seat was not able to drive due to alcohol. Lee successfully completed field sobriety exercises and was not suspected of DUI.
Lee was charged with operating a motor vehicle over 100 mph.
Escambia County Man Sentenced to Life In Prison For 2024 Christmas Day Shooting
August 3, 2026
An Escambia County man will spend the rest of his life behind bars for a violent 2025 domestic attack on Christmas morning.
Circuit Court Judge John Miller sentenced 47-year-old Terrence James Franklin to life in state prison. The sentencing follows a May 28, 2026, trial in which an Escambia County jury found Franklin guilty of attempted second-degree murder with a firearm and aggravated assault by threat with a deadly weapon.
The charges stem from a shooting on December 25, 2024. According to court records, law enforcement officers were dispatched to Baptist Hospital early Christmas morning after a victim arrived at the emergency room suffering from gunshot wounds.
Investigators quickly learned that the holiday celebration at a local residence had turned into a nightmare. Witnesses reported that Franklin threatened his family with a shotgun before turning the weapon on his wife, shooting her once in the leg and once in the chest.
Franklin fled the residence with the shotgun before deputies could arrive at the scene. Responding deputies later recovered spent shotgun shells inside the family home.
The investigation and subsequent arrest were handled jointly by the Pensacola Police Department and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Northview FFA Officer Team Meets With Local Agricultural Stakeholders
August 3, 2026
The Northview High School FFA Chapter 2026–2027 Officer Team recently kicked off their new year by spending a day touring and learning from various agricultural stakeholders throughout the community.
The team began their educational journey at Aliff Acres farm, where officers learned firsthand how the operation raises, processes, and markets its own local products. The tour continued with a visit to Lukers Custom Meats for a closer look at animal processing and facility management systems.
The group also explored local forestry management practices during a meeting with the Florida Forest Service before concluding their day at the local Escambia County Extension office to consult with regional agricultural specialists.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mark Your Calendar: Escambia County School Orientations, Open Houses Are Set
August 3, 2026
Mark your calendars — orientation sessions and open house dates have been set for schools in Escambia County.
Elementary Schools
- All Elementary Schools (General Schedule): Friday, August 7 | 9-11 a.m.
- Byrneville Elementary: Thursday, August 6 | 1-3 p.m.
- Pensacola Beach: Thursday, August 6 | 9-9:45 a.m. (Grades K-2) and 10-10:45 a.m. (Grades 3-5)
Middle Schools
- All Middle Schools (6th Grade Orientation): August 7, 2026 | 1-3 p.m.
High Schools (9th Grade Orientation)
- Northview: Wednesday, August 5 | 9-10 a.m.
- Pensacola: Wednesday, August 5 | 9-10 a.m.
- Pine Forest: Monday, August 10 | 4-5 p.m.
- Tate: Monday, August 10 | 1-2 p.m.
- Washington: Thursday, August 6 | 9-10 a.m.
- West Florida: Friday, August 7 | 9-10 a.m.
- Escambia: (Held Friday, July 31)
Special Centers & Alternative Education
- Achieve Academy: Scheduled individually | By Invitation
- Beulah Academy: Monday, August 10 | 9-11 a.m.
- Escambia Westgate: Friday, August 7 | 9-11 a.m.
- Hope Horizon: Friday, August 7 | 9-11 a.m.
- Jackie Harris: Friday, August 7 | 10-11 a.m.
- Success Academy: Scheduled individually | By Invitation
- Warrington Preparatory Academy:
- Thursday, August 6 | 3-6 p.m. (8th & 9th Grades)
- Friday, August 7 | 3-6 p.m. (6th & 7th Grades)
Information provided by the Escambia County Public Schools.
This Week’s Road Construction Delay Spots
August 3, 2026
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads and projects in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- Interstate 10 (I-10) Resurfacing from east of U.S. 29 to east of Davis Highway (State Road (S.R.) 291) – Drivers on I-10 may encounter intermittent lane closures, traffic shifts and periodic ramp closures, between mile markers 11 and 14, Sunday, Aug. 2 through Thursday, Aug. 6, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for paving operations and roadway construction.
- S.R. 292 (Gulf Beach Highway) from east of Bauer Road (County Road (C.R.) 293) to Manchester Street – The week of Sunday, Aug. 2, drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on S.R. 292 from east of Bauer Road (C.R. 293) to Manchester Street, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., for construction activities. Median devices are in place near Patton Drive and Mills Avenue. Drivers are reminded that the speed limit has been reduced to 35 mph through the work zone.
- U.S. 90 (Scenic Highway) Resurfacing, from south of I-10 to south of Hyde Park Road – Drivers on Scenic Highway may encounter intermittent lane closures, from south of I-10 to south of Hyde Park Road, Sunday, Aug. 2 through Thursday, Aug. 6, between 8 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., for placement of thermoplastic striping. Law enforcement will be on site, and traffic flaggers will direct drivers safely through the work zone.
- U.S. 90A (West Nine Mile Road) Resurfacing, from Perdido River Bridge to S.R. 99 (Beulah Road) - The week of Sunday, Aug. 2, drivers on U.S. 90A will encounter inside lane closures, between Western Way Drive and Tower Ridge Road, for construction activities.
- Business U.S. 98 (Garden Street) Construction from Pace Boulevard to the Interstate 110 (I-110) ramp – The week of Sunday, Aug. 2, drivers may encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions:
- Garden Street, between Pace Boulevard and North Donelson Street, is reduced to two travel lanes (one in each direction) as crews perform construction activities on the north side of the street. This temporary traffic configuration will be in place through late 2026.
- Temporary side street closures north of Garden Street for stormwater drainage system reconstruction. This week, drivers may encounter a closure with detour at D Street. Signage will be in place to direct drivers through the work zone.
- On-street parking is closed on Garden Street, between A Street and L Street.
- I-110 Resurfacing from I-10 to U.S. 98 – Drivers on I-110 may encounter intermittent lane closures, traffic shifts and periodic ramp closures, between I-10 and U.S. 98, Sunday, Aug. 2 through Thursday, Aug. 6, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., for paving operations and roadway construction.
- I-10 Resurfacing from the Perdido River Bridge to west of U.S. 29 – I-10 drivers may encounter intermittent and alternating lane closures between the Perdido River Bridge and west of the U.S. 29 interchange (Exit 10), Sunday, Aug. 2 through Thursday, Aug. 6, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., for guardrail installation.
- I-10 at Nine Mile Road Interchange (Exit 5) Construction – Drivers will encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions:
- Intermittent lane closures on I-10 westbound near the Nine Mile Road interchange, Sunday, Aug. 2 through Thursday, Aug. 6, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- Nine Mile Road will be reduced to one travel lane in each direction between the I-10 ramps, Sunday, Aug. 2 through Saturday, Aug. 8, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. Law enforcement will be on site, and directional signage will be in place to guide drivers through the work zone.
- Temporary reconfiguration of the I-10 westbound on-ramp, which will remain in place through mid-2026.
- I-10 at U.S. 29 Interchange (Exit 10) Construction – I-10 drivers may encounter intermittent inside lane closures near mile marker 11, Monday, Aug. 3, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., for barrier wall placement. Additionally, drivers are reminded of the following ongoing construction-related traffic impacts:
- West Hope Drive at North Palafox Street remains closed temporarily for drainage construction. Traffic on North Palafox Street is being detoured via Tower Drive and Burgess Road. Signage is in place to direct drivers through the detour.
- I-10 is reduced to two travel lanes in each direction between U.S. 29 and I-110.
- I-10 travel lanes are shifted away from the median area of the roadway, near the U.S. 29 interchange.
- The U.S. 29 southbound access to the I-10 eastbound on-ramp has been reduced.
- The U.S. 29 northbound ramp to I-10 eastbound is closed. U.S. 29 northbound drivers are being detoured to make a U-turn at Broad Street onto U.S. 29 southbound to access I-10 eastbound.
- S.R. 97 (Atmore Highway) Resurfacing from U.S. 29 to the Alabama State Line – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Intermittent lane and shoulder closures are to be expected throughout the project limits on Monday, Aug. 3 through Friday, Aug 7, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Median and turn lane closures from Bayshore Road to Tiger Lake Drive.
- Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between Bayshore Road and Tiger Lake Drive, Sunday, Aug. 2, through Saturday, Aug. 8, from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for paving operations.
- S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard) Routine Bridge Maintenance over Garcon Point Bridge – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures Monday, Aug. 3 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for routine bridge maintenance.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Pictured: construction of the new North Palafox Street bridge over I-10 reached a major milestone, as crews completed the concrete deck pour on the north end of the structure. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Five-Run Sixth Sinks Wahoos In Smokies Series Finale
August 3, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell in their series finale with the Knoxville Smokies to the tune of a 5-3 final.
The Wahoos got on the board first in the usual way: the longball. Ethan O’Donnell went first, smashing his first homer with Pensacola way over the right field wall. Two batters later, Brandon Compton continued his seemingly endless stretch of dingers with, you guessed it, another dinger. This one was a two-run jack that gave the Wahoos a 3-0 lead.
Joey Volini pitched 5.0 scoreless innings and left in-line for the win when Gabe Bierman (L, 3-2) entered in the 6th. The Smokies pounced on the pitching change. Knoxville loaded the bases and, with two outs, Karson Simas beat out an infield single up the third baseline to get his club on the board. This would prompt manager Nelson Prada to pull Bierman in favor of Michael Perez, who gave up a grand slam to Drew Bowser. It was Bowser’s first Double-A homer and the fifth grand slam the Wahoos have given up this year.
When the 6th inning ended, Knoxville had a 5-3 lead. And, despite having men on second and third with nobody out in the top of the 8th, Pensacola failed to score for the rest of the game and ended up dropping the series finale by a score of 5-3. Frankie Scalzo Jr. (W, 3-1) earned the win with Marinos Santy (S, 7) securing his 7th save of the season.
The Wahoos fell to 55-46 overall and 19-13 in the second half while the Smokies improved to 54-48 and 16-17.
The Blue Wahoos have an off-day Monday before beginning a series with the Montgomery Biscuits.
$5.3 Million Resurfacing Project Planned for West Highway 4 From Davisville to Century
August 2, 2026
Escambia County is set to award a $5.3 million contract this week to resurface the full 13 miles pf West Highway 4 from Highway 97 in Davisville to North Century Boulevard in Century.
The project will provide resurfacing and safety improvements along West Highway 4. The work on the county road will also include reconstructing sections of the road base, milling the existing asphalt, and placing a new asphalt surface. Safety upgrades will include new pavement markings and the removal and replacement of existing guardrail, as well as installing additional guardrail where needed. After the asphalt work is completed, the right of way will be graded and restored.
Roads, Inc. of NWF was determined to be the lowest-cost, most responsive and responsible bidder at $5,327,739. Other bidders were Panhandle Grading & Paving ($5.5 million), C.W. Roberts Contracting ($5.7 million), and Site and Utility ($6.6 million). The Escambia County Commission will vote on the contract at its regular meeting on Thursday.
The project will be funded with Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) funds.
Pictured: A deteriorated section of Highway 4 near Northview High School in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos and map, click to enlarge.
New Escambia County Teachers Prep For The New School Year
August 2, 2026
The first day of school is just around the corner, and last week new Escambia County Public Schools teachers gathered for a two-day introduction to the system.
The new teachers familiarized themselves with ECPS, learned from experienced teachers, and prepared for the coming school year at the “Great Beginnings Conference” at Beulah Middle School.
The first day of school for students in Escambia County is Wednesday, August 12.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
