$2.36 Million Highway 4A Safety Improvement Project Is Now Underway
January 9, 2026
A $2.36 million, Escambia County Highway 4A safety improvement project is now underway near Century.
The 4.8 miles of roadway safety improvements are taking place on Highway 4A from Highway 4 at the light in Byrneville to State Line Road, and include pavement reconstruction at the State Line Road intersection. The project’s total cost will be $2,362,863.20.
The planned roadway improvements include widening and overlaying the existing lanes. The project also includes the relocation of mailboxes and the reinstallation of traffic signs to county specifications. The guardrails within the project limits will be upgraded to current Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) standards.
The project also includes minor drainage modifications to accommodate road widening.
Pictured: Work on Thursday afternoon on a safety improvement project on Highway 4A. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Manny Diaz Jr. Selected By UWF Board of Trustees As The University’s Next President
January 9, 2026
The University of West Florida Board of Trustees selected Manny Diaz Jr. to serve as the University’s seventh president during a special board meeting on Thursday. Diaz, UWF’s interim president since July, was announced as the sole finalist on Nov. 22, 2025, following a comprehensive national search. His appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Board of Governors.
“On behalf of the University of West Florida Board of Trustees, I congratulate Manny Diaz Jr. on his selection as UWF’s seventh president,” said UWF Board of Trustees Chair Rebecca Matthews, who also shared an extended message to the University community. “During his past six months as interim president, Diaz has demonstrated that he is exceptionally suited for this role through his engagement with students, faculty, staff, and the community. We are confident that his leadership will be a catalyst for the University of West Florida to continue to succeed, grow and deepen its impact on the Northwest Florida region and beyond.”
Prior to coming to UWF, Diaz served as Florida’s Commissioner of Education, where he oversaw statewide policy, academic standards and student success initiatives across the K–20 system. His career experience includes work as a classroom teacher, administrator and policymaker.
“I am deeply honored and grateful for the trust UWF and the Board of Trustees has placed in me,” Diaz said. “UWF is a dynamic institution with extraordinary momentum, and I am excited to work alongside our faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners to build upon that success. Together, we will continue to elevate UWF’s impact, strengthen opportunities for students, and advance our mission of excellence for the region and beyond.”
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Barricades Himself In Escambia Home, Shoots Fireworks At Deputies
January 9, 2026
A man is facing multiple charges following a standoff at a home just north of Nine Mile Road.
Phillip Preston Resmondo, 37, was charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, criminal mischief with property damage under $200, and criminal mischief with property damage between $200 and $1,000. Resmondo, who was on federal probation, remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond on a hold placed by the U.S. Marshals.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a criminal mischief complaint in the area of Le Ruth Drive, about two blocks north of Nine Mile Road near Copter Road, for a man that was hitting stop signs with a baseball bat.
When deputies arrived, he made threats and got into a truck and revved the engine “as if he was going to run over deputies,” and then locked himself in a house and refused to come out, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Deputies said he then started shooting fireworks out of the home’s windows.
After SWAT arrived on the scene, Resmondo was taken into custody.
Photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Failed Attempt To Pass Ends With Serious Injuries In Quintette Road Crash
January 8, 2026
Two people were seriously injured when a driver attempted to pass on Quintette Road Thursday afternoon and instead crashed over a guardrail.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the 50-year-old Pensacola man attempted to pass another vehicle in his pickup truck and ran off Quintette Road near Rocky Branch Road. The vehicle then traveled over a guardrail and struck two trees.
The driver and his passenger, a 51-year-old female also from Pensacola, were extricated by Escambia County Fire Rescue and transported in serious condition to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS.
The FHP investigation is continuing.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man In Custody After Standoff With Escambia County Deputies
January 8, 2026
A suspect was taken into custody Thursday afternoon following a standoff at a home just north of Nine Mile Road.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a criminal mischief complaint in the area of Le Ruth Drive, about two blocks north of Nine Mile Road near Copter Road, for a man that was reportedly hitting stop signs with a baseball bat.
When deputies arrived, he made threats, locked himself in a house, and refused to come out, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Deputies said he then started shooting fireworks out of the home’s windows.
After SWAT arrived on the scene, the man was taken into custody. His name has not been released.
Photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Millions In Projects, Mostly Grant Funded, Underway In Century
January 8, 2026
Million of dollars of projects are underway in Century.
The town’s consulting engineer, Dale Long, recently present an update to the town council on the projects, including funding status. Major projects include
- wastewater improvements including wastewater treatment plant — $8.86 million (90% grant, 10% loan)
- water meter and service replacements — $1.3 million (100% grant)
- Freedom Road Bridge replacement — $1.3 million (100% grant)
- wastewater lift station rehabilitation — $3.36 million (90% grant, 10% loan)
- wastewater treatment plant improvements — $5.36 million (90% grant, 10% loan)
- water well replacement == $1.85 million
For a complete status report (pdf format), click here.
Pictured: Work on the Century lift station on West Highway 4 recently. NorthEscambai.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Cold Case: Murder 45 Years Ago Remains Unsolved
January 8, 2026
It was45 years ago on the afternoon of January 2, 1981, that 9-year-old Kenneth Deshun Underwood and three companions went bird hunting in the woods near their Cantonment home. Everyone returned home that afternoon except for Underwood.
When Underwood was still not home around 6 p.m., Escambia County Search and Rescue personnel were called. The area where Underwood was last seen alive was canvassed. His body was discovered about 5:45 the next morning –apparently murdered — in an area near Booker Street. His cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma.
The case remains unsolved, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public for help because they believe someone in our area still has information about Underwood’s death.
If you know anything about the death of Kenneth Deshun Underwood, 9, you are asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit at (850) 436-9580 or Crime Stopper at (850) 433-STOP (7867).
Pictured above: The fourth-grade photo of murder victim Kenneth Deshun Underwood of Cantonment. Pictured below: The highlighted area in this map shows where the body was found. Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Longtime Escambia County Attorney Alison Rogers Is Retiring
January 8, 2026
Longtime Escambia County Attorney Alison Rogers is retiring.
Rogers, who served Escambia County as an assistant county attorney from 1999 to 2003, was named deputy county attorney in 2003 before being named county attorney in February 2008.
Rogers submitted a one-year retirement notification on Tuesday. Her final day will be January 4, 2027.
“I am available throughout 2026 to assist with the transition as needed,” she wrote in a letter to the Escambia County Commission.
The commission is expected to discuss her retirement at a regular meeting on Thursday.
Byrneville Elementary Names Students Of The Month
January 8, 2026
Byrneville Elementary School recently named its Students of the Month for December.
They are:
- Kindergarten: Jon Wagner and Amelia Thomas
- 1st Grade: Sydney Lashley and Price Miller
- 2nd Grade: Braelyn Smith and Hudson Edwards
- 3rd Grade: Carter Potts and Liam Steadham
- 4th Grade: Cambree Flowers and Suzi Pope
- 5th Grade: Conner Fowler and Veronica Walker
- Art: Nevaeh Comalander
- PE: Timothy Dees
- Music: Jonah Levins
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Police To Host Elder Abuse Awareness Program
January 8, 2026
The Flomaton Police Department will be presenting an Elder Abuse Awareness program at the Flomaton SAIL Program.
The program will be held at 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday, January 13 at 628 McCurdy Street.
The presentation is open to the public and will provide information on recognizing, preventing, and reporting elder abuse