First Stage Of $3.5 Million In Sewage Lift Station Upgrades Now Online In Century
October 21, 2025
Work is continuing on an $8 million wastewater improvement project in Century, with the first of four lift stations being replaced for $3.5 million.
The lift station located at the rear of the Century Woods Apartments on West Highway 4 (pictured above) is now online.
Lift stations are pumps that move sewage and wastewater to high elevations when gravity alone cannot achieve the necessary flow to a point such as the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). Without functioning lift stations, sewage would back up into homes and businesses.
The total $8 million project, including $5.5 million for the treatment plant, is being funded by a loan with 90% of the principal to be forgiven, leaving Century responsible for repaying just 10% of the total amount to the state’s revolving loan fund.
The project includes four lift stations located at:
- West Highway 4 (pictured below, just west of the community center)
- Century Woods Apartments (now online at the rear of the complex)
- Pond and Jefferson intersection
- Century Correctional Institution
Additional projects will be forthcoming to replace other lift stations around the town.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Tribal Beat Band Receives Excellent Ratings
October 21, 2025
The Northview High School Tribal Beat Band received excellent ratings across all categories recently at the Florida Bandmasters Association Marching MPA.
This was the highest overall rating at the Marching MPA that the band has achieved since 2021.
NorthEscabia.com file photo.
Pensacola Beach Lifeguards Shift To Winter Staffing, Towers Off The Beach
October 21, 2025
The Pensacola Beach Lifeguards have shifted to winter staffing levels and lifeguard towers have been removed from the beach until the 2026 lifeguard season. Lifeguards will maintain a presence on Pensacola Beach throughout the winter at Casino Beach and via patrol vehicles.
Escambia County said residents and visitors are urged to exercise caution when visiting the beach and swimming in the Gulf, especially when lifeguards are not present.
Follow the posted beach condition flag warnings:
Green flag – Low Hazard: Generally calms surf and currents
Yellow flag – Medium Hazard: Moderate surf and/or currents
Red flag – High Hazard: High surf and/or dangerous currents; beach patrons are encouraged to remain out of the water
Double red flag - Water Closed: No swimming or wading
Purple flag – Stinging Marine Life: Flown when jellyfish, Portuguese man o’war or other stinging marine life are present
Crash Involving Two Pickups Seriously Injures Two Flomaton Residents Near Century Prison
October 20, 2025
A crash involving two pickup trucks seriously injured two Flomaton residents early Monday morning on Tedder Road, between North Century Boulevard and the Century Correctional Institution.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 50-year-old man was traveling east on Tedder Road about 5:45 a.m. when he failed to maintain a single lane. The front driver’s side of his pickup collided with the front driver’s side of a westbound pickup driven by a 37-year-old Flomaton woman with a 7-year-old male passenger.
The at-fault pickup driven by the 50-year-old, overturned and landed on its passenger side, blocking Tedder Road. The second pickup came to a stop on the side of the road.
Both drivers were seriously injured. One was transported by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Hospital. The second was transported by Escambia County EMS. The young boy was not injured.
The Century and McDavid stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded.
FHP investigated the crash.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Beulah Man’s Plea Deal Drops Sexual Battery Charge, Leads to Probation For Child Abuse
October 20, 2025
A Beulah man has been sentenced on a child abuse charge.
William Gavi Baughman, now 28, was originally charged with felony sexual battery by a person over 24 on a victim 16 or 17 years of age for an incident that reportedly took place March 19 at a residence on Frank Reeder Road. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was initially called to the location for a citizen assist after a woman reported that her daughter and a friend had been abandoned while on spring break from Texas. The report states they had been invited to stay at the home by a Snapchat friend that also lives at the home.
The 16-year-old victim told deputies that she engaged in sexual activity with Baughman multiple times at the residence, according to an arrest report. The victim stated that the encounters occurred over the course of their stay.
The sexual battery charge was dropped, and Baughman pleaded no contest to child abuse under a plea deal according to court documents.
Adjudication was withheld, and he was sentenced to 24 months probation. He was also ordered to enroll in a sex offender treatment program within the first 60 days of his probation, complete 50 hours of community service, maintain full-time employment and pay fines and court costs.
Tate Junior’s Dream To Cheer For The Aggie Nation Comes True
October 20, 2025
For Tate High School junior Acacia Carrol, the roar of the crowd and the bright Pete Gindl Stadium lights weren’t just the backdrop for any football game—they were the vibrant stage for a long-held dream come true recently.
Acacia, a Tate High Access Points student, had always wanted to join the legendary Aggie cheer squad. Her wish began quietly with a simple request from her mother to teacher and cheer coach Morgan Norwood at the start of the season.
“She’s always wanted to be a cheerleader,” Norwood explained saying that her mom reached out, and the answer was an unconditional yes.
The Tate cheer program worked quickly to welcome their newest member. “We gave her a uniform, we gave her some cheer shoes, and now she’s here with us,” Norwood said.
Acacia became a guest cheerleader. She worked hard on the sidelines, mastering routines alongside her teammates. But most impactful contribution wasn’t a perfect toe-touch or synchronized motion—it was her pure, infectious joy cheering for the Aggie Nation.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
By The Numbers: Molino Tax Collector’s Office Goes Appointment Only
October 20, 2025
In early September, the Escambia County Tax Collector’s Molino office became appointment-only in an effort to increase efficiency and reduce wait times.
Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford said offering appointments at the Molino location would allow his office to better meet demand, eliminating spikes in traffic and decreasing or eliminating long wait times. The new appointments are time-specific, replacing the previous “join the line” program which placed people in line in the order they joined.
Now, all tax collector offices are appointment-only.
“There were appointments available same or next day most mornings,” Lunsford said. “The feedback from customers has been very positive.”
By The Numbers
Lunsford provided a breakdown of appointments made in the Molino office by the numbers:
- 2,390 appointments were made for the Molino office.
- 2,023 citizens served at counter averaging 100 per workday.
- 301 citizens cancelled their appointment prior to the service date / time.
- 252 citizens cancelled their appointment by failing to confirm their visit.
- 276 citizens made an appointment and failed to arrive.
“These numbers count as one transaction although many customers need several items during their visit,” Lunsford said, adding that the numbers do not include drive-through or drop box transactions.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
IMPACT 100 Awards 12 Grants Of $103,500 Each
October 20, 2025
IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area on Sunday announced the 12 grant recipients during their annual meeting on Sunday. Each of the nonprofit organizations will receive a grant of $103,500 from the members of IMPACT 100.
The grant recipients selected by IMPACT 100’s members are as follows:
ARTS, CULTURE & HISTORY
- Greater Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, Inc. — Project: Drumroll, Please: The Sound of a New Century
- Pace Band Boosters, Inc. — Project: Every Note Matters: Powering the Next Generation of Musicians
EDUCATION
- Children’s Home Society of Florida — Project: W.A.V.E.-Warriors Achieving, Valuing, and Exploring
- Escambia County School Readiness Coalition, Inc. (dba Early Learning Coalition of Escambia County) — Project: Classroom on Wheels
ENVIRONMENT & RECREATION
- Greater Pensacola Junior Golf Association, Inc. (dba First Tee Gulf Coast) — Project: Truly Impacting Warrington Youth
- Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida, Inc. — Project: Moveable Habitats, Meaningful Messages
FAMILY
- Legal Services of North Florida, Inc. — Project: Equal Access Express
- Wesley Haven Villa, Inc. (dba Methodist Homes of Alabama & Northwest Florida — Project: Rolling with a Purpose: Connecting Seniors to Care and Community
- Wounded Veterans Relief Fund, Inc. — Project: Veteran Family Homelessness Prevention
HEALTH & WELLNESS
- Community Organizations Active in Disaster, Inc. (dba Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE)) — Project: BRACE Mobile Support and Resiliency Unit
- Feeding the Gulf Coast — Project: Nutrition Equals Seniors Thriving
- Gulf Coast Kid’s House, Inc. — Project: Healing House and Garden
“IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area is thrilled to select these 12 remarkable organizations as our 2025 grant recipients thanks to the contributions of our members. Each of these nonprofits is making an incredible impact in our community, and we are honored to support their efforts in creating meaningful change. We look forward to seeing how these projects will touch the lives of so many in the coming year.” said Martha Holden, president of IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area
With 1,242 members this year, IMPACT 100 was able to award 12 grants of over $103,000 each to nonprofit organizations in our community for a total impact of over $1.2 million.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Woman Charged With DUI Manslaughter, Leaving The Scene
October 20, 2025
An Escambia County woman was charged with DUI manslaughter after a fatal crash early Sunday morning.
About 12:05 a.m., a 51-year-old male was bicycling eastbound on Lillian Highway near Stafford Lane.
A 42-year-old female, later identified as Hannah Miatta Williams, was westbound in a 2014 Honda sedan. She failed to maintain her lane, collided with the bicyclist, and fled the scene, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The bicyclist was transported to a local trauma center by ambulance, but was pronounced deceased shortly after his arrival.
A piece of front bumper from the sedan left behind at the scene was traced by an embossed VIN to Williams. FHP troopers and Escambia County deputies responded to her residence where they located her outside by her vehicle where she had been involved in a second crash with an electrical junction box. Troopers said Williams also was making an effort to clean her vehicle at the time of the encounter.
Williams provided a breath alcohol level of 0.180, well above the legal limit of 0.08, according to FHP.
Williams was charged with DUI manslaughter, leaving the scene of a traffic crash involving death, DUI with traffic crash, tampering with evidence, and child neglect. In a release Sunday night, troopers did not detail the reason for the child neglect charge.
She remained was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Florida Gas Prices Are The Lowest Since 2023, AAA Says
October 20, 2025
Florida gas prices declined 2 cents last week, settling at a state average of $2.90 per gallon on Sunday. While the change is modest, it marks the lowest daily average recorded since December 2023, according to AAA.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $2.71, with a Pensacola low of $2.42 at a station on East Nine Mile Road and a North Escambia low price of $2.52 on Highway 29 in Cantonment.
“Florida gas prices continue to fluctuate week to week, but the overall trajectory is downward,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Robust global oil supplies and the seasonal dip in gasoline demand have helped push pump prices to their lowest level in almost two years.”
Sunday’s state average of $2.90 per gallon is 2 cents less than last week, 28 cents less than last month, and 19 cents less than last year