Photo Gallery: Century Trunk or Treat
October 25, 2025
The Century Area Chamber of Commerce held its 6th annual Trunk or Treat Friday.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Over 200 people were estimated to have attended the event shortly after it opened.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
I-65 Wreck Claims Life Of Woman Near Atmore, Shuts Down The Interstate
October 25, 2025
A Saraland woman was killed in a crash early Friday morning on I-65 just north of Atmore.
Alabama State Troopers said that 74-year-old Victoria B. Rodgers was fatally injured when the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan she was driving was struck by a 2022 Freightliner tractor-trailer driven by 61-year-old Henry L. Howard of Montgomery. After the initial impact, the Volkswagen left the roadway, struck a cable barrier, and overturned. Rodgers was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The crash occurred about three miles north of the Atmore exit about 5 a.m. and shut down both the northbound and southbound lanes of the interstate for several hours.
Troopers are continuing their investigation.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Chiefs Dominate Central (AL) Lions 60-0 (With Photo Gallery)
October 25, 2025
The Northview Chiefs dominated the Central Lions of Hayneville, Alabama, 60-0 Friday night on Senior Night in Bratt.
On the first play after kickoff, Caleb Levins completed a 33-yard pass to senior Sam Reid to give the Chiefs a 7-0 lead after a good extra point kick from senior Cameron Bourgeois.
Moments later, senior Nate Duffy was in from 46 yards out for another Northview touchdown with less than two minutes off the clock in the first.
That set the tone for the remainder of the game for the Chiefs — touchdowns and interceptions against Central, which only dressed out 14 players.
For a photo gallery, click here.
*Look for a gallery with cheerleaders, band, and fans by early next week.
Northview closed out the first quarter with additional touchdowns from:
- Hunter Parker, 2-yard rushing
- Camo Bodiford, 1-yard fumble recovery returned
- Christian Callender, 30-yard return
- Cameron Bourgeois, 71-yard rushing
- Tyson Phifer, fumble return
At the end of the first, Northview was up 47-0. After a scoreless second quarter, Tyler McAnnally added an 18-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter for the Chiefs, and Wyatt Spence returned a punt 50 yards in the fourth quarter for NHS.
In the second half, it was a running clock with shortened 8-minute quarters.
With the win, Northview improved to 2-7 on the year. Next week, the Chiefs travel to Flomaton for a Halloween Friday night game against the Hurricanes (6-3).
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Several North Escambia Area Fall Festivals On Sunday
October 25, 2025
Numerous Halloween and fall festival events are scheduled in the North Escambia area on Sunday.
- To see more events taking place after Sunday, click here for our Events Page.
- To submit your event for next week or beyond for a non-profit community group in the North Escambia area, email news@northescambia.com, or click here for our contact form
Walnut Hill Baptist Church Fall Festival
Walnut Hill Baptist Church Fall Festival, Sunday, October 26 from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. Costume contest, fun games, trunk or treat, snow cones, cake walk, chili cookoff, and more. Meal at 5 p.m. The church is located at 5741 Arthur Brown Road in Walnut Hill.
Dogwood Park Baptist Church Trunk or Treat
Dogwood Park Baptist Church has canceled its Trunk or Treat event on Sunday, October 26 due to weather.
Pinewoods Presbyterian Church Fall Festival
Pinewoods Presbyterian Church will hold their annual Fall Festival on Sunday, October 26, from 4:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Free food, games, candy, bounce houses and more. The church is located at 2198 County Road 297A in Cantonment.
High School Football Scoreboard
October 25, 2025
Here are Friday night high football scores from across the North Escambia area.
FLORIDA
- Northview 60, Central (Hayneville, AL) 0 [Story, photos...]
- Crestview 38, Tate 6 [Story...]
- Jay 45, Wewahitchka 14
- West Florida 30, Pensacola High 22
- Pine Forest 40, Escambia 0
- Washington 42, Destin 7
- Pensacola Catholic 24, South Walton 13
- Niceville 45, MIlton 21
- Pace 41, Navarre 21
- Mosley 54, Gulf Breeze 14
- Central 51, Lighthouse Private Christian Academy 8
ALABAMA
- Cottage Hill Christian Academy 13, Flomaton 7
- Escambia Academy 49, Evangel Christian Academy 24
- Greenville 27, Escambia County 18
- Bayside Academy 23, T.R. Miller 14
- W.S. Neal 35, Mobile Christian 22
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Fall To The Crestview Bulldogs
October 25, 2025
The Tate Aggies fell 38-6 on the road to the Crestview Bulldogs Friday night.
The only touchdown for the Aggies came on a Tanner Clark run in the second quarter.
Tate (6-3) will close the regulars season on Thursday night, October 30, as the Aggies host the Escambia Gators (3-6) in Pete Gindl Stadium.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
$10 Million State-Funded Project To Transform Old Century High Gym Into Hurricane Shelter
October 24, 2025
A $10 million project to convert the old Century High School gym into a hurricane shelter is getting closer to becoming a start date.
The Town of Century was awarded $10 million in a Florida Department of Commerce’s Rebuild Florida grant to turn the old gym property into a multipurpose facility that will also serve as a shelter during hurricanes or other disasters.
Grant management was later redirected from the town to Escambia County. Thursday, NorthEscambia.com was there as town officials and Escambia County Facilities Management staff toured the 56-year-old gym.
“It has good bones,” Century Mayor Ben Boutwell said. “With a steel frame and solid brick and concrete construction, it will make a good shelter.”
County staff agreed that the building appears to be structurally sound enough to meet the requirements for a hurricane shelter, and that will be confirmed by a structural engineer. The existing building will be gutted and slightly expanded during construction. It is expected to include a multipurpose area that will have uses including meeting space, shelter space, and indoor sports such as basketball. There will be other amenities including a kitchen and a generator.
The town does not own the old gym, which was constructed in 1960; it belongs to Pensacola State College, though the town had been working to have PSC deed the gym property to Century. Once an environmental study is completed, PSC will deed the property to the county at no cost.
Time and vandals have ravaged the former Blackcats’ gym. The windows have been smashed out of all the doors, and many of the gym windows are broken, with damage to the parquet wood floor—all of which is slated for replacement. Vandals have stripped all of the HVAC units and copper wiring. The Blackcats logo is still visible on the wall over the basketball court.
Behind the gym, remaining bleachers and press box, which was damaged by a tornado in 2016, are currently set to be removed for safety reasons. The football field will remain as a youth sports field.
Pictured: Officials toured the old Century High School gym on Thursday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cottage Hill Man Charged With Grand Theft Of A U-Haul Truck
October 24, 2025
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office recently made an arrest in slightly unusual vehicle theft case. The vehicle was a 2021 GMC box truck rented from a U-Haul location on Mobile Highway.
James Joseph Sowinski, 55, was arrested at his Cottage Hill home this week on a warrant for the August incident.
According to the arrest report, the investigation centered on the U-Haul truck that was originally rented by Sowinski but was never returned on its due date of July 15, 2025.
The commercial vehicle was formally reported as stolen after the rental company attempted to contact Sowinski and sent a certified demand to return letter without success. The Sheriff’s Office was able to quickly track down and recover the vehicle at the Cutty Sark Liquor on Mobile Highway shortly after the official theft report was filed.
Sowinski is charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle. He remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond due to a propagation violation charge in a domestic violence injunction violation case from 2024.
Half Of Alabama School Treated To Lunch In Century
October 24, 2025
A Century restaurant was packed with students from an Escambia County, Alabama, school at lunch on Thursday.
Pollard-McCall Junior High School promised lunch to K-8 students that made the honor roll or had perfect attendance for the first nine weeks. A total of 83 students made the honor roll and 20 students had perfect attendance, representing about half the school’s enrollment.
Thanks to the school’s PTO, the students were treated to a Mexican lunch at Vallarta on North Century Boulevard.
“This is the best day ever,” one student said.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Convicted Of Violent Second Degree Murder
October 24, 2025
On Thursday, an Escambia County man was convicted of second degree murder.
Davarius James faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced on November 5 for the murder of Claudette Robinson.
On February 3, 2025, Claudette Robinson was located deceased in her residence. Her injuries included bruises over her body, broken ribs, a broken breastbone, and injuries to her throat. Evidence established that her boyfriend, Davarius James, had attempted to contact friends and family members for help over the course of that day, however, he failed to call 911 or seek medical treatment for the victim. A family member called 911 at 3:29 p.m. and officers and investigators responded to the scene. James was located and apprehended two hours later and taken into custody.
James told investigators that Robinson was injured when she fell twice earlier that morning.
During the trial, polie testified to search terms found in the victim’s phone including google searches asking how to determine if someone was dead, how long someone can live off CPR, and searches about how to tell if someone had been choked by the neck.
Associate Medical Examiner, Dr. Lorraine Lopez-Morell testified that the victim’s cause of death was “multiple blunt force trauma” and that broken cartilage in the victim’s throat and a broken hyoid bone indicated manual strangulation. Robinson’s injuries were described as being similar to injuries seen in a car crash.