Escambia Sheriff Faces Tough Questioning In Molino
March 25, 2026
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons faced some really tough questioning in Tuesday evening in Molino.
“Do you have to eat a specific meal?”
“Do you have other sheriff friends?”
“Do villains name themselves or do you name them?”
Those were just a few of the questions Simmons said he was asked by BSA Troop and Pack 430 at Aldersgate Methodist Church in Molino. Simmons helped the scouts earn their Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge, which required them to interview an elected official. The sheriff said the questions were among the most interesting he’s received.
“It is always refreshing to spend some time with a group of future leaders that are this engaged and eager to learn,” Simmons said.
Escambia Woman Charged With DUI Manslaughter After Fatal Pedestrian Crash
March 25, 2026
A 20-year-old Escambia County woman was charged with DUI manslaughter for allegedly hitting and killing a 51-year-old Pensacola woman along Lillian Highway on Sunday night.
The victim, identified by family as Sharon Woolfolk, was pushing an e-bike along the paved apron of Lillian Highway around 2:45 a.m. when she was hit by a sedan driven by Summer Leigh Townsend, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Townsend fled the scene heading east on Lillian Highway before turning around and heading west, but she was later located and arrested.
She was charged with DUI manslaughter, leaving the scene of a crash with death, driving with a suspended license causing death, and failing to maintain a single lane.
Northview Chiefs Shut Out The Baker Gators (With Gallery)
March 25, 2026
Northview 10, Baker 0
The Northview Chiefs shut out the Baker Gators 10-0 on Tuesday night.
Mikayla McAnally started in the circle for the Lady Chiefs, allowing two hits and no runs in four innings, striking out nine and walking just one. Daviona Randolph pitched two shutout innings in relief.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Randolph was a force at the plate, going 3-4 on the night with two RBIs. Riley Brooks, Kylee Langham, and Avery Stucky each added two RBIs for Northview.
It was Teacher Appreciation Night for the Lady Chiefs, as players honored their favorite educators.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Three Federally Indicted In Stolen Identity, Bank Fraud Ring
March 25, 2026
Three Escambia County residents have been indicted by a federal grand jury in an alleged stolen identity and bank fraud ring.
Donny Bernard Ross, 49, Elizabeth Ann Rogers, 39, and Vontavius Jamaal Bradley, 23, face charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, use of a false passport, and aggravated identity theft.
All three defendants appeared for their arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho in Pensacola. A jury trial is scheduled for May 4, 2026, before United States District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
If convicted, each defendant faces up to 30 years’ imprisonment on the conspiracy to commit bank fraud count; up to 10 years’ imprisonment on the use of a false passport count; and a mandatory two years’ imprisonment consecutive to any other sentence on the aggravated identity theft count.
The case was a joint investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
Outside Fire Spreads To Destroy Home North Of Ten Mile Road; Pets Rescued
March 24, 2026
Escambia County Fire Rescue said a Sunday morning fire that destroyed a home north of Ten Mile Road was caused by an outside fire that spread.
The fire was reported at 11:42 a.m. in the 10000 block of Senegal Drive.
ECFR said fire crews were initially dispatched to an outside fire that spread to two nearby homes. The first-arriving crews saw heavy flames coming from the roof of one of the homes. While firefighters worked quickly to extinguish the flames, an ECFR crew from Bellview searched the home and rescued two family pets.
The fire was brought under control by 12:07 p.m. The first home was a total loss, while the home next door sustained exterior damage. There were no injuries or fatalities.
The American Red Cross provided assistance to the displaced occupants.
Young Men, Including Three Ransom Middle Students, Graduate From Sheriff’s Blazer Academy
March 24, 2026
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office recently held graduation exercises for the Sheriff’s Blazer Academy Class of 2026.
The young men spent weeks developing lifelong skills. They learned how to do a proper handshake, how to put on a tie, how to present themselves, and much, much more.
After the ceremony, the graduates had a celebratory dinner at The Global Grill, where they made a toast to completing the academy and their futures.
From Ransom Middle School, Sheriff’s Blazer Academy graduates included Keylin Stallworth, Caiden Gremillion, and John Bosson V.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge
Tate Grad Wine Named Sun Belt Softball Player Of The Week
March 24, 2026
Tate High School graduate Kara Wine was recenthly named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week.
Wine, a freshman, was instrumental in helping South Alabama post a 3-1 record, including a Sun Belt series sweep of in-state rival Troy.
In her four outings, Wine led the club with a .500 batting average and reached base safely in seven of her 12 plate appearances while drawing a pair of walks. The freshman catcher drove in five runs, homered twice and posted three extra-base hits, as she had at least one hit and one RBI in each game.
Against ninth-ranked Florida State, Wine went 2-for-2 with a home run, a double and a walk. In the series against Troy, she broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the fifth inning with a two-out, RBI-single in the Jags’ 3-2.
In a 7-0 win, Wine lined a bases-loaded, two-run single up the middle in the top of the first inning. Behind the plate, she helped the Jaguar pitching staff secure its conference-leading eighth shutout of the season. In Sunday’s 5-4 victory, Wine’s sixth-inning home run provided insurance and proved to be the game-winning run.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
OLF-8 Developer Wants County To Keep 160 Acres, Lower Price By $15 Million
March 23, 2026
A developer who purchased the OLF-8 property on Nine Mile Road wants Escambia County to keep nearly 30% of the property and lower the selling price.
Last year, the Escambia County Commissioners approved the $42.5 million sale of 540 acres of OLF-8 to Tri-W Development and Chad C. Henderson Enterprises of Pensacola.
Now, Henderson wants the county to keep 160 acres and lower the purchase price to $27.5 million.
He said the plan would create a partnership with the county, giving it more control of job creation in an Employment Technology Innovation District. He said the county is in a position to secure funding, grants, or even Triumph money.
“We believe that coming together and partnering on the ETI district will allow us to have access to other financing aspects, grants, even Triumph, — where we can make sure we can develop this project the right way on the front end,” Henderson said.
He added, “540 acres is a large enough piece of property where you can curate the experience and feel of different aspects of real estate, making it all come together the way it should be.”
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Traffic Stop Leads To Felony Drug Charges For Woman
March 23, 2026
A routine traffic stop by the Flomaton Police Department resulted in a woman’s felony arrest and the seizure of various narcotics this week.
During the stop, officers developed probable cause to search the vehicle, uncovering five different types of controlled substances. Police identified the suspect as Latanya Jones, who was taken into custody without incident.
Jones was charged with five counts of possession of a controlled substance for each of the following: morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, Suboxone, and Xanax.
Jones was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton.
Ernest Ward Middle School Names Students Of The Month
March 23, 2026
Ernest Ward Middle School recently named their February Students and Employee of the Month.
Pictured (L-R) with Principal Tyvanna Boulanger, they are: Baylee-Ann Barcinas, eighth grade; Michael Flowers, seventh grade; Leila Statam, sixth grade; and Lindsay Merritt, Civics teacher.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.