Fire Rescue Shares Winter Weather Heating Safety Tips
January 31, 2026
Escambia County Fire Rescue is encouraging residents to practice space heater and carbon monoxide safety.
Home fires occur more in the winter months than any other time of year. According to the National Fire Protection Association, heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths and space heaters account for 4 out of 5 home heating fire deaths.
Home Heating Tips
- Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional.
- Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove or portable space heater.
- Never plug a space heater in a power strip.
- Install carbon monoxide detectors to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Never use an oven to heat your home.
- Close all bedroom doors before going to bed. Remember this phrase: Close before you doze!
Portable Electric Heaters
- Place them on a solid, flat surface, away from high traffic areas and doorways.
- Portable space heaters should be turned OFF every time you leave the room and before going to bed.
- Use and purchase heaters with an automatic shut off so if they are tipped over they will shut off.
- Plug power cords directly into outlets and never into an extension cord or power strip.
- Inspect for loose connections or cracked, damaged, or broken plugs, and replace before using.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless gas created when fuels like gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane oil and methane burn incompletely, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Exposure to carbon monoxide can have fatal results. Due to being invisible and odorless, carbon monoxide has been known as the “invisible killer.”
Safety Tips
- Install carbon monoxide alarms in central locations of the home, including outside each sleeping area and every level of the home.
- Test carbon monoxide alarms monthly. If the alarm sound is low, replace the batteries.
- If a carbon monoxide alarm goes off, immediately move to a fresh air location and call 9-1-1.
- Make sure all vents for the dryer, furnace, stove and fireplace are clear.
- If a vehicle is located inside a garage, make sure the garage door is open before starting the vehicle to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Only use gas or charcoal grills outdoors.
- Use generators outdoors, as they produce carbon monoxide.
- Never use a gas stove to warm a home, as it can produce carbon monoxide.
Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- Headache
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Shortness of breath
- Sleepiness
- Loss of muscle control
- Loss of consciousness
Those experiencing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning should immediately get into fresh air and seek medical attention.
Smoke Detectors Save Lives
Escambia County Fire Rescue is available to provide and install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors free of charge for residents. For information about obtaining a home smoke detector, call (850) 595-HERO (4376).
Florida Driver’s License Exams Will Soon Only Be In English
January 31, 2026
Beginning late next week, all driver’s licenses exams in Florida will only be in English.
Friday, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) announced that, beginning Friday, February 6, all driver license knowledge and skills examinations will be administered exclusively in English. This change applies to all driver license classifications, including exams administered orally.
Previously, knowledge exams for most non-commercial driver license classifications were offered in multiple languages, while Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) and Commercial Driver License (CDL) knowledge exams were only available in English and Spanish. Under the updated policy, all driver license knowledge and skills testing will be conducted in English.
To implement this change, FLHSMV has updated its driver license testing system statewide. Language translation services will no longer be permitted for knowledge or skills examinations, and any printed exams in languages other than English will be removed for use.
Northview Baseball: Gold Beats The Garnet (With Gallery)
January 31, 2026
The Gold team beat the Garnet 10-3 on a cold Friday night during a Northview Chiefs intrasquad baseball game in Bratt.
The game gave the Chiefs a chance to sharpen their skills before preseason play begins next week.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
80’s Night: Ice Flyers Fall 8-6 To Fayetteville
January 31, 2026
The Ice Flyers hosted the Fayetteville Marksmen on Friday night for 80’s Night, but despite a thrilling comeback attempt, fell short in a high-scoring affair, losing 8-6 to the visiting Marksmen.
The game got off to a fiery start with former Ice Flyer Sam Dabrowski and Samson Mouland dropping the gloves, energizing the crowd at the Hangar. Fayetteville wasted no time getting on the board, with Trey Fechko scoring early. Marcus Fechko extended the Marksmen’s lead to 2-0 at the 9-minute mark. Tyler Burnie cut the deficit to one for the Ice Flyers, but Marcus Fechko notched his second of the night, giving Fayetteville a 3-1 lead heading into the first intermission.
The Ice Flyers came out firing in the second period, with Captain Ethan Price scoring just seconds in. Ryan Leith answered back for Fayetteville, but the remainder of the frame belonged to Pensacola. Sam Rhodes tallied two goals, Tyrone Bronte found the back of the net, and Captain Price closed out the period with his second of the night, giving the Ice Flyers a 6-4 lead heading into the final frame.
Despite their comeback, the Marksmen seized control in the third period. Matt Wiesner scored twice, while Shane Murphy and Sam Dabrowski each added goals, propelling Fayetteville to an 8-6 victory.
The Ice Flyers are back in action Saturday night for Mardi Gras Night.
Escambia Man Arrested For Animal Cruelty For Abandoning Dogs On Cantonment Road
January 30, 2026
A man was arrested Thursday on animal cruelty charges after he allegedly dumped two dogs with no food or water on Becks Lake Road in Cantonment.
Bryan Wayne Mott, 60, was booked into the Escambia County Jail on two counts of animal cruelty — abandonment of an animal.
The incident occured on January 21 when an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy observed a red Chevy Silverado traveling on Becks Lake Road with two dogs in the bed of the truck. A short time later, the same truck passed the deputy again, this time without the dogs.
Moments later, a concerned citizen flagged the deputy down and reported that a red truck had just dumped two dogs and fled the area. The deputy immediately responded, located the dogs on a dead-end portion of Becks Lake Road, and safely placed them in the back of his patrol vehicle.
After running the vehicle tag and reviewing surveillance footage, the deputy identified Mott as the driver and owner of the red Silverado.
When contacted, Mott initially denied any knowledge of the dogs, then provided several conflicting explanations about how the dogs ended up abandoned without food or water and the end of Beck’s Lake Road. Surveillance video later confirmed his truck traveling north with the dogs at Old Chemstrand Road and Highway 29.
Animal Control responded, and the dogs were safely turned over to their care.
FHSAA Merges Rural Class With Class 1A For Football
January 30, 2026
The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Board of Directors voted in emergency session on Thursday to combine Rural Class and Class 1A into a single classification for two years, beginning with the upcoming season.
FHSAA policy requires at least 24 schools for there to be a rural classification. With only 16 schools meeting the criteria, the board voted to merge the classifications to ensure a consistent competitive structure.
FHSAA Executive Director Craig Damon called the emergency meeting after after many rural schools moved to the Sunshine State Athletic Association (SSAA).
“The rural schools that want to be part of the state series can now do so,” said FHSAA Executive Director Craig Damon.
The Board also voted to allow the creation of an independent league under FHSAA authority, giving independent schools the option to participate with the potential for postseason play.
The FHSAA will provide updated classification details to schools in the coming weeks.
In the Northwest Florida area, Northview, Jay, Baker, Blountstown, Central, Chipley were in the Rural Class for football. There are no Northwest Florida schools in 1A football.
According to the SSAA website, the only members school in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties is Lighthouse Private Christian Academy in Gulf Breeze.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs lost to the Jay Royals 28-20 on October 10, 2025. Both teams were in the Rural Class. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Sentenced On Federal Firearm Charge
January 30, 2026
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearm offense.
Earl Vincent Hudgins III, 32, as sentenced to three years in federal prison followed by a three-year term of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
“Thanks to the outstanding work of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and our federal law enforcement partners, another dangerous felon was stopped before he could continue terrorizing our community with violence, and with this successful prosecution by my office he will be kept off our streets for several years,” said John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Court documents reflect that on February 16, 2025, the Hudgins’ vehicle was stopped for a traffic infraction. A subsequent search uncovered an AR-style firearm loaded with 15 rounds of .300-caliber ammunition, which he was prohibited from possessing as a convicted felon. Later, law enforcement identified multiple posts on the Hudgins’ social media showing him in possession of the same firearm located during the traffic stop. Hudgins also posted a video during the traffic stop captioned, “Bout to go to jail.”
This case was a joint investigation by Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Manny Diaz Jr. Confirmed As UWF President
January 30, 2026
Manny Diaz Jr. is now officially president of the University of West Florida.
On Thursday, the Florida Board of Governors confirmed Manny Diaz Jr. as the seventh president of the University of West Florida .Diaz was named sole finalist for the position by the UWF Presidential Search Committee in November and was approved by the UWF Board of Trustees earlier in January. He will assume the permanent position on Feb. 1, 2026.
“I am honored by the confidence of the Florida Board of Governors and thankful for the opportunity to continue serving the University of West Florida,” Diaz said. “Education has been the foundation of every endeavor I’ve undertaken, and it remains central to UWF’s mission of excellence and service. The University’s momentum is undeniable, and I look forward to working with our talented students, faculty, administrative staff and community partners to strengthen academic distinction, expand access, and ensure UWF continues to advance the economic and civic vitality of Northwest Florida and beyond.”
Diaz has served as UWF’s interim president since July 2025, bringing more than 30 years of educational leadership and policy experience to the role. His background includes time as an educator, as a college administrator, as Florida’s Commissioner of Education, as a member of the Florida Board of Governors, and in the Florida Legislature, where he championed policies supporting students, families and educators.
“With strong leadership and governance, Manny Diaz Jr. will lead the University of West Florida to new heights,” said Florida Board of Governors Chair Alan Levine, who also served on the UWF Presidential Search Committee. “UWF’s recognition as a top 10 regional public university in the South by U.S. News and World Report and its drive of a more than $1 billion annual economic impact on Northwest Florida demonstrates the dedication of faculty and staff to providing a high-quality education for students and serving Florida communities. Diaz will build upon this momentum through his strategic vision and deep education expertise.”
Throughout his interview and public remarks to the UWF Board of Trustees, Diaz outlined priorities focused on advancing the University’s academic profile, strengthening enrollment and retention, expanding research and innovation, and deepening partnerships across Northwest Florida and the state. He emphasized building on UWF’s existing strengths while positioning the University for long-term growth and increased impact.
“President Diaz is the catalyst the University of West Florida needs to accelerate its growth and elevate its national profile,” said UWF Board of Trustees Chair Rebecca Matthews. “Since his arrival, President Diaz has demonstrated steady leadership, a deep understanding of higher education, and a clear, unwavering commitment to the University’s mission and future.”
During Thursday’s meeting, members of the Florida Board of Governors expressed confidence in Diaz’s leadership as UWF’s next president.
“It’s with some emotion that I am involved today in recognizing President Diaz,” said BOG member Doug Broxson. “Universities lift the spirit of an area, and for Northwest Florida, the University of West Florida represents a community that loves the university.”
Addressing Diaz, Broxson added, “You will do a great job because you are a hard worker and you take any challenge and make it successful.”
“There is no one that is harder working, there is no one more humble… making sure that we’re prioritizing student safety, academic achievement, ensuring that we’re fighting for teacher pay, ensuring that our system as a whole’s moving in the right direction,” said BOG member and Florida Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas. “His legacy will be felt in this state for years to come.”
Diaz’s annual compensation package will be $946,040, up from $742,200 he received as interim president. The university’s last president, Martha Saunders, had an annual compensation package of $742,200.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High FFA’s Maegan Coleman Places First In District Public Speaking
January 30, 2026
Tate High School FFA member Maegan Coleman placed first at the District Prepared Public Speaking contest.
She will advance to the state finals at the Florida FFA Convention and Expo in Orlando in June.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Extension Service Free Gardening Class At The Molino Library
January 30, 2026
UF/IFAS Escambia County Extension will hold a Spring Gardening Class next week at the Molino Library.
The free class will provide information on how to start a spring garden from seeds while building skills on garden tool prep.
The class will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 5, at the Molino Library, 6450 North Highway 95A.