Cotton Lake Recreation Area Has Reopened Following Flooding
June 5, 2026
The Cotton Lake Recreation Area on the Escambia River has reopened. It was closed earlier this week due to flooded access roads.
The Bluff Springs Recreation Area, also on the Escambia River, reopened Monday after being closed last week due to flooded roadways.
File photo.
Tate Aggies Hold Summer Baseball Camp
June 5, 2026
Over 125 kids took part in the three-day Tate Baseball Camp 2026 this week.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lookouts Rally Late To Beat Blue Wahoos
June 5, 2026
Eliazar Dishmey took a no-hitter into the sixth inning in just his second Double-A start, but the Chattanooga Lookouts out-executed the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in the ninth inning for a 2-1 win on Thursday night.
Jay Allen II’s two-out RBI single gave the Lookouts a 2-1 lead in the top of the ninth inning, and a well-turned double play off the bat of Pensacola’s Connor Caskenette foiled a bases-loaded threat in the bottom half of the inning to snuff out the Blue Wahoos’ bid for a walk-off win.
Dishmey, called up from High-A Beloit last week, was given an early 1-0 lead thanks to a Caskenette RBI triple in the bottom of the second inning. He didn’t allow a baserunner until issuing a two-out walk to Cade Hunter in the fifth inning, and didn’t allow a hit until Pablo Aliendo doubled to begin the sixth. Though Aliendo later scored on an RBI groundout to tie the game 1-1, Dishmey finished with nine strikeouts over 6.0 one-hit innings.
The game remained tied 1-1 until the ninth, when Carlos Jorge singled off Jack Sellinger (L, 0-2) and scored on Allen II’s two-out RBI single to put Chattanooga ahead 2-1. On for a second inning to try and close it out, Lookouts reliever Brody Jessee (W, 2-0) quickly got himself in trouble by allowing back-to-back singles to Fenwick Trimble and Dillon Lewis. He struck out Cristian Hernández and intentionally walked Ian Lewis Jr. to load the bases and set up a double play opportunity. Caskenette swung at the first pitch he saw, sending a chopper to short that turned into a game-ending twin killing.
The Blue Wahoos went just 1-for-10 with men in scoring position, and fell back to .500 on the season at 27-27 with the loss.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Lookouts on Friday.
Century Seeks A Nearly $700,000 Loan To Cover Wastewater Project Shortfall
June 4, 2026
The Town of Century is seeking over $680,000 in loan money from the state in order to complete a wastewater improvement project.
During a council meeting this week, the council approved a $408,952 change order to the project for required repairs to an existing Motor Control Center (MCC) for the town’s wastewater treatment plant to allow pumps and aerators to function. The town made a $1.061 million legislative funding request for a brand new MCC, but state funding was not approved.
The change order put Century at a $682,136.43 deficit to complete the project. The council voted 4-0, with member Henry Cunningham absent, to seek a loan for the full $682,136.43 from the State Revolving Fund, which provides low-interest loans to local governments.
Pictured: Dale Long of Municipal Engineering Services explains the state of Century projects to the town coucal. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
This Is Who Claimed A Winning $3.75 Million Lotto Ticket Sold On Nine Mile Road
June 4, 2026
We now know who claimed a winning $3.75 million Florida Lotto ticket sold last year in Beulah.
The ticket in the November 12, 2025, drawing was sold at the Circle K on Nine Mile Road at I-10.
Robert Ramon Lumpkins of Mobile claimed the top prize in the November 12, 2025, drawing for his quick pick ticket.
Winning numbers were 2-14-27-29-45-53.
The named was just released because draw game winners have 180 days to claim their prize, and names are exempt from disclosure for 90 days after the prize is claimed.
Free Summer Lunch Program Underway At West Florida Public Libraries
June 4, 2026
The free summer lunch program for youth at West Florida Public Libraries is underway at all locations.
West Florida Public Libraries will be serving free lunch for youth 18 years of age and younger at all library locations Monday through Friday from noon until 1 p.m. A special rural grab-and-go version of the program will be available at the Century and Molino library locations during the same time period.
The program will continue until August 7 at the Century, Molino, Tryon and Westside libraries, and until July 31 at the Bellview, Pensacola and Southwest libraries.
Disabled individuals 19 years of age and older who participate in a public or private non-profit program during the school year are also eligible to receive meals. This program is sponsored by Feeding the Gulf Coast.
Cantonment Man Charged With Late-Night Vehicle Burglary Attempt
June 4, 2026
A Cantonment man was arrested after allegedly prowling through a Pensacola mobile home park and attempting to break into vehicles
Vontarius Lavont Gulley, 20, was charged with felony attempted burglary of an unoccupied unarmed conveyance and misdemeanor loitering and prowling. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $3,500 bond.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, deputies responded to the Oakstead Mobile Home Park on Massachusetts Avenue around 12:50 AM on May 29, 2026, following a report of a burglary in progress. A resident alerted dispatch after surveillance cameras captured two individuals in black clothing, hoodies, and masks walking through yards and pulling on vehicle door handles.
Upon arrival, deputies spotted two individuals running through the complex. While one suspect eluded law enforcement, deputies successfully detained Gulley on the west side of the property.
Home surveillance footage linked Gulley to the scene, showing him—identifiable by a specific logo on his jacket—approaching an SUV on the property and attempting to open the door. Investigators confirmed the targeted vehicle was unlocked, but nothing was reported missing.
According to the arrest report, Gulley admitted he traveled to the area specifically to enter vehicles.
Domestic Violence Arrested Leads FDLE To Charge Man For Child Porn
June 4, 2026
A 44-year-old Escambia County man has been charged with 20 child porn counts.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) arrested Ronnie Cooper, 44, for possession of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. The arrest is part of FDLE’s statewide initiative to identify and apprehend offenders who target children and share files depicting child sexual abuse.
In March 2026, agents received Cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), reporting that an unknown user uploaded over 1,300 files containing images depicting the sexual abuse of children. Agents traced the associated IP address to Cooper’s residence and identified Cooper as the user of the account.
While under investigation by FDLE, Cooper was arrested on April 29 for a domestic violence battery charge by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Cooper allegedly got into a physical altercation with his girlfriend when he was discovered viewing child sexual abuse material on his laptop.
Agents obtained an arrest warrant for Cooper for 20 counts of possession of child sexual abuse materials and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communication device. The warrant was served on Cooper in jail the same day.
Cooper remains in the Escambia County Jail with bod set at $213,000.
Escambia County Felon Indicted On Federal Gun, Drug Charges
June 4, 2026
An Escambia County felon has been indicted on federal gun and drug possession charges.
Joseph Jerome Reynolds, Jr., 31, was indicted for one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.
His jury trial is scheduled for July 6.
Reynolds, Jr. faces a maximum of 15 years’ imprisonment if convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and up to three years’ imprisonment for each count of possession of a controlled substance.
The case is being jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Blue Wahoo Bats Go Quiet In 4-1 Loss
June 4, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos dropped game 2 to the Chattanooga Lookouts Wednesday night by a final score of 4-1.
Alex Williams (L, 2-5) got the ball in game 2 and was quickly touched up in the first inning. Carlos Jorge, who would end his night with 3 hits, led things off with a single and quickly stole his 17th base of the season to get into scoring position. Two batters later, Cam Collier knocked a two-out, run scoring single into left field to give the Lookouts an early 1-0 lead.
Chattanooga’s opener, Nick Sando, would allow nothing after a leadoff single from Cam Cannarella, facing the minimum over his two innings of work. The Wahoos would strike back against Nate Peterson (W, 3-1) in the third. Peterson gave up a booming leadoff double to Garret Forrester, which was followed by a Dylan Jasso walk and an Emaarion Boyd single to load the bases with nobody out. Primed to do damage, Cannarella would send what looked like a sacrifice fly into left field, but a perfect throw home from Jay Allen II would cut down a tagging Forrester for a double play.
With men on second and third and two away, Aiva Arquette sent a single into center field that would score Dylan Jasso, but would see Emaarion Boyd get thrown out at the plate on a strike throw from Carlos Jorge. With two runners thrown out on the bases, the Wahoos had still managed to tie the game at 1-1.
This would be all the offense Pensacola could muster while the lookouts continued to put on runs. Two more would score on a two run single off the bat of Cam Collier in the 5th, giving him all three RBIs to that point. An inning later, the Lookouts would tack on another, this time off of Wahoos reliever Nigel Belgrave, when Carlos Jorge would bring in the 4th and final run on an RBI knock to give Chattanooga a 4-1 lead.
Pensacola would manage to get at least one man on base in innings 5-8, but was never able to capitalize on the Lookouts bullpen, who went a combined 7.0 innings allowing just one run. They would go down 1-2-3 in the 9th against Jonathan Lavallee (S, 3), putting the final nail in the coffin.
Relievers Jake Christianson and Michael Perez would make their Double-A and Blue Wahoos debuts and each pitch a scoreless, hitless inning.
Pensacola would fall to a 27-26 record while the Lookouts would jump to a 28-25 record.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Lookouts on Thursday.
written by Charlie Hobert