Cantonment Sexual Predator Charged With Absconding
December 11, 2025
A Cantonment sexual predator remains behind bars in the Escambia County Jail after vacating his permanent residence without notifying authorities, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Bradford Anthony McKune, 55, was charged with four felony sexual predator violations.
According to an arrest report, McKune moved away from 960 Rose Petal Lane six months ago but failed to report the change as required to the Sheriff’s Office and the driver’s license office. Authorities said he also provided false registration information to the Florida Sex Offender/Predator registry.
According to state records, McKune was convicted of sexual battery of a child in 2004 in Pasco County, Florida, and required to maintain his registration as a sexual predator.
He is due back in court on December 23.
Escambia Schools Announce Top 5 Teachers Of The Year
December 11, 2025
Escambia County Public Schools released the top five finalists for ECPS Teacher of the Year.
The five finalists are as follows, listed in alphabetical order:
- Courtney Geiger — Lipscomb Elementary School
- David Dawson — Pine Forest High School
- Trinity Barnett — Blue Angels Elementary School
- Kathryn Cody — Booker Washington High School
- Cameron Peters — Bailey Middle School
The overall Teacher of the Year for Escambia County Public Schools will be announced in the coming months, and honored, along with all district teachers of the year, at a special event.
Northview High Names History Fair Winners
December 11, 2025
Northview High School recently held its 2025 History Fair.
Winners were:
Honorable mentions were: Amy Floyd, Landon Brown, Katelyn Sanchez, Day Randolph, Auna Arredondo, Brielle Garcia, Emma Godwin, and Warner Maxwelloinrry.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Convicted of Animal Cruelty, Firearm Charge
December 11, 2025
An Escambia County man has been convicted of animal cruelty and a firearm charge.
Joseph Henry Broxson, 23 was found guilty by a jury of aggravated animal abuse and discharging a firearm on a residential property .
In the early morning hours of December 29, 2024, Broxson shot his neighbor’s one-year-old dog named Tank. Prosecutors said Tank and another dog got out of their fenced yard and walked into Broxson’s backyard. Broxson told Escambia County Sheriff deputies that the dogs were “snooping around” in his backyard and said they barked and growled.
Broxson said that he was so afraid of the dogs that he went inside his home to arm himself with his firearm. He then went back outside to the front yard and discovered that the dogs were walking in the street, several houses away. Broxson said he waited in his front yard for the dogs to walk past his house again and shot at them, striking Tank multiple times. Tank made a full recovery.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 21, 2026, before Judge Amy Brodersen.
Century Christmas Parade, Sheriff’s Movie Night Showing ‘The Grinch’ Are Friday
December 11, 2025
The Century Christmas Parade will be held Friday afternoon, followed by a Sheriff’s Movie Night with a free showing of “The Grinch” at Anthony Pleasant Park
Christmas Parade
The Century Christmas Parade will line up at PSC on East Hecker Road beginning at 3 p.m. The parade will roll at 4 p.m. from East Hecker to Mayo Street to East Front Street to Jefferson Avenue. The parade will then travel Jefferson Avenue to West Highway 4, ending at Anthony Pleasant Park.
For a parade entry form, click here. For more information, call Shelisa at (850) 256-3135.
Sheriff’s Movie Night
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office will present “The Grinch” at 5:30 p.m. on a big outdoor screen, following the Century Christmas Parade, at Anthony Pleasant Park. Free hotdogs and hamburgers will be served, and attendees are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs for seating.
The Sheriff’s Movie Night is presented by Sheriff Chip Simmons and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Foundation.
File photos.
Escambia County Public Works Holds Year End Holiday Party (With Gallery)
December 11, 2025
The Escambia County Public Works Department held its annual year-end holiday luncheon on Wednesday.
District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry, County Administrator Wes Moreno, and Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Robert Bender joined staff for an afternoon of food, fun and fellowship. Staff from the Road Department and the Work Annex also attended.
Service awards were also presented during the luncheon.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Commission To Consider Land Use Changes For Two Molino Retail Properties
December 10, 2025
The Escambia County Commission will hold a public hearing on Thursday concerning the adoption of an ordinance amending the future land use categories for two parcels on Highway 29 near Molino Road, including a property where work began months ago to remodel a small shopping center.
The first parcel is 3.75 acres located at 6505 North Highway 29, at the corner of Highway 29 and Molino Road. The parcel, which fronts both Highway 29 and Molino Road, includes a 10,346 square foot shopping center that is being remodeled. According to Escambia County, the work was started by a previous owner without a land use change. The property sold in June to 29 & Molino Rd Development, LLC. There is also a 55-year-old mobile home located behind the shopping center, according to county property records.
Scott’s Pharmacy is currently located on the south end of the shopping center, which has been home to numerous businesses over the years, including thrift stores and a grocery store since it was constructed in 1970.
Escambia County Code Enforcement issued a cease and desist order for land clearing on the property on September 9, 2025, according to county records, and a land and tree management permit was issued September 11. The after-the-fact permit did not authorize additional clearing until a development order was obtained.
The second parcel, located to the north of the first and separated by Dollar General, is 3.321 acres and contains the Molino Food Mart and a tire store.
The ordinance under consideration will, if approved, change the Future Land Use category of both parcels from Rural Community (RC) to Mixed-Use Urban (MU-U), which allows residential, retail, professional office, light industrial, recreational facilities, and limited agriculture. Surrounding properties are classified as Rural Community (RC), which allows agriculture, silviculture, residential, recreational facilities, public and civic, and compact traditional neighborhood supportive commercial.
The public hearing is set for 5:45 p.m. Thursday during a regular Escambia County Commission meeting.
NorthEscambia.com photos and graphic, click to enlarge.
New Disc Golf Course Now Open At Ascend Community Park
December 10, 2025
Local residents looking for a fun outdoor activity now have a new option. Ascend Community Park has officially opened a new 9-hole disc golf course that circles the wooded area around the children’s playground.
The course was installed by Ascend employee volunteers and designed with guidance from Ryan Vann of Flight Factory Discs.
Funding came from the Ascend Cares Foundation — a charitable foundation supported by donations from Ascend Performance Materials employees and the company itself. From planning to installation, a team of Ascend volunteers rolled up their sleeves to bring the course to life, installing baskets, tee pads and signage throughout the wooded layout.
“I’m extremely proud of the work our team did to get input on the course design, order the materials, and help with installation,” said Sam Brown, a reliability engineer at Ascend who led the disc golf project. “”We had a great team of people working together on this project. The course is open to everyone, and disc golf is something anyone can do and enjoy. We are excited to have the course completed and share it with our community.”
The disc golf course and park are open to the public from dawn until dusk at 3098 Old Chemstrand Road in Cantonment.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County, Alabama, Voters Approve Health Care Tax
December 10, 2025
Escambia County, Alabama, voters on Tuesday approved a property tax earmarked for hospital funding and health care.
Tuesday’s referendum passed with 1,647 (54%) in favor and 1,396 (46%) against.
The 4-mill tax is expected to generate and estimated $1.8 million for health care facilities, according to the Escambia County Healthcare Authority. The authority’s services include D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital in Brewton, Atmore Community Hospital, D.W. McMillan EMS, Atmore Community Home Care, Atmore Med Plus, ACH Family Physicians, ACH Primary Care, Atmore Therapy Services, D.W. McMillan Home Medical Equipment, D.W. McMillan Home Health and the Flomaton Medical Center
Preliminary unofficial results by precinct, were as follows:
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Tate Moves To 5A, Northview Remains In Rural In New FHSAA Classifications
December 10, 2025
The Florida High School Athletic Association has released its new tentative classifications for 2026-28, and it sees several area teams moving down a class.
The Tate Aggies moved down from 6A to 5A, as did Pace and Navarre. Pine Forest went down to 3A, while Gulf Breeze and Milton were reclassified into 4A.
The changes are because FHSAA voted in November to drop Class 7A.
Northview, Jay, and Central remained in the Rural Classification.
Schools have until December 15 to appeal the changes, and teams cannot begin their scheduling until the final classifications are released on December 17. The remaining flass sport classifications will be released in the spring.
Here are local classes and districts are aligned:
Class 5A, District 1
- Tate
- Crestview
- Navarre
- Niceville, Pace
Class 4A, District 1
- Escambia
- Gulf Breeze
- Milton
- Washington
- Choctawhatchee (Fort Walton beach)
- Fort Walton Beach
Class 3, District 1
- West Florida
- Pensacola
- Pine Forest
- South Walton
- Bay
Rural
The Rural class does not have regions or districts. Area teams in the Rural Class are Northview, Jay, and Central.
Pictured: The Tate Aggies hosted the Pace Patriots on October 10, 2025. Both teams moved down from 6A to 5A in new tentative classifications released by the FHSAA. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
