Feel A Boom? Here’s What We Found About A Possible Source
March 21, 2026
NorthEscambia.com readers across a portion of northern Escambia County in Florida and southern Escambia County in Alabama reported a boom or rumble they heard and felt on Saturday night around 8:35.
Escambia County Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in Florida responded to a reported explosion which was located a bonfire off Nokomis Road near Highway 97 in Davisville.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that the fire was started with too much fuel, exploded, and was the probable source of the boom.
No injuries were reported.
Map location is approximate and for illustrative purposes only.
Man With A Walker Hit By Car On North Century Boulevard
March 21, 2026
A man crossing North Century Boulevard with the assistance of a walker was struck by a car on Friday night.
The man was crossing the four-lane roadway at the Century Food Mart, just south of Ranch Road and the Century Library, when he was struck by a Buick sedan. The sedan was pulled into the convenience store parking lot following the crash. There is no crosswalk next the incident location.
The adult male pedestrian was transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released further details.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded, along with the Century and McDavid stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Next Town of Century Bulk Waste Collection Set for April 7
March 21, 2026
The Town of Century’s next bulk waste pick-up will be April 7 as pictured above and listed below.
Items should be placed curbside by the night of April 6. Hazardous waste, electronics, tires, construction or demolition debris, and liquid items are excluded.
- Alger Road
- Annie Street
- B Street
- Baptist Church Road
- Bradley Street
- Briggs Boulevard
- Church Street
- Dogwood Lane
- East Hecker Road
- Elm Street
- Front Street
- Hilltop Road
- Highway 4A
- Jeter Lane
- Jefferson Avenue
- Jefferson Clancy Way
- Jim Lane
- Kelly Field Road
- Lodge Drive
- Maple Street
- Mayo Lane
- Mayo Street
- Pinewood Avenue
- Plum Street
- Ranch Road
- Red Lane
- Wood Lane
Sheriff Says Calm Down After Three Road Rage Incidents
March 21, 2026
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons issued a stern warning to motorists following a surge in road rage violence, including a shooting and an armed confrontation, over a four-day period.
The most severe incident, which occurred eon Tuesday at the intersection of Fairfield Drive and W Street, escalated from a verbal dispute into gunfire. According to investigators and surveillance footage, a truck driver repeatedly jumped into the bed of his vehicle to throw trash at another car before punching and shattering the car’s driver-side window. The driver of the car, who was traveling with a woman and a small child, fired two shots, striking the truck driver.
In two other separate cases:
- Thursday on Pine Forest Road: A driver intentionally veered into another vehicle while traveling side-by-side. Authorities are currently working to identify the suspect.
- Wednesday on North Davis Highway: A woman was arrested and charged after pulling a firearm and pointing it at another motorist.
Sheriff Simmons urged the public to maintain composure behind the wheel to avoid criminal charges or physical harm.
“My advice to everyone is to calm down on our roadways,” Simmons said. “Stay in your car, do not approach the window of a driver’s car, and you’re probably not going to get yourself shot.”
No Injuries In Highway 29, Quintette Road Crash
March 21, 2026
There were no injuries in a two-vehicle crash on Friday afternoon on Highway 29 at Quintette Road.
Around 5 p.m., a passenger car collided with a utility trailer, causing significant damage to the car.
Everyone involved in the crash refused transport by Escambia County EMS.
The Florida Highway Patrol investigated; troopers have not said which driver was at fault.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
NAS Pensacola Now Open To Public Only On Weekends
March 21, 2026
Beginning Monday, March 23, NAS Pensacola will only be open for public visitation on the weekends and closed to the public Monday through Friday.
Only Department of War identification card holders can access the air station Monday through Friday.
Visitors to NAS Pensacola’s areas of public interest, including the National Naval Aviation Museum andd the Pensacola Lighthouse, can access the air station only on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. Any non-affiliated guest of a Department of War identification card holder must be vetted through the Visitor Control Center.
“Naval Air Station Pensacola remains vigilant and will take appropriate actions to ensure the safety and security of our service members, civilians, contractors, and their families,” said NAS Pensacola Commanding Officer Capt. Chandra Newman. “We constantly assess a variety of factors to determine what measures we institute or modify to protect our installations, our people and their families.”
The National Naval Aviation Museum and the Pensacola Lighthouse are not closed; Department of War identification card holders can visit these areas during normal operating hours. Access to NAS Pensacola for non-Department of War identification card holders, however, will only occur on weekends until further notice.
Until further notice, all visitors over the age of 18 must be vetted through the NAS Pensacola Visitor Control Center at the south end of Navy Boulevard before being granted access to the installation on Saturdays and Sundays. At the Visitor Control Center (VCC), individuals will be required to present a Real ID or U.S. Passport for screening. Screened individuals must then use the installation’s West Gate at the south end of Blue Angel Parkway to enter the air station.
The NAS Pensacola Visitor Control Center will open for public visitors at 8 a.m.
All individuals 18 years of age and older who do not hold a Department of War ID card and are planning to visit areas of public interest, including the National Naval Aviation Museum and the Pensacola Lighthouse and Maritime Museum, will need to complete the following steps:
- Visitor Control Center – Before accessing the installation, all visitors must go to the Visitor Control Center located at the main front gate at the south end of Navy Boulevard. Use the left lane when approaching the installation. All visitors 18 and older must present a valid government-issued ID, such as a REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenseor a U.S. passport.
- Background Check and Pass: At the Visitor Control Center, individuals will undergo a background check and be issued a visitor pass.
- Proceed to the West Gate: Once a visitor pass is granted, individuals will then proceed to the West Gate entrance, located at the south end of Blue Angel Parkway, to access areas of public interest onboard the air station.
Visitors should plan extra transit time for the security process.
Weapons, backpacks, coolers, and alcoholic beverages are not permitted. All vehicles and personnel are subject to security searches.
“We understand the inconvenience this may cause the thousands of individuals who visit the air station’s areas of public interest each week,” Newman said. “Our operational requirements, however, are priority, and we are committed to providing support to the commands training the next generation of aviators, aviation maintenance technicians and cyber warriors.”
NHS Grad Ragsdale Named ACCC DII Softball Player Of The Week
March 21, 2026
Northview High graduate Chloe Ragsdale has been named the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) Division II Softball Player of the Week.
Ragsdale is a sophomore catcher for the Lurleen B. Wallace Community College (LBW) Saints has one home run, three RBIs, and after her first four games of the season.
Ragsdale is a 2024 Northview High School honors graduate.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Missing Endangered Man Last Seen Months Ago In Cottage Hill
March 20, 2026
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a missing endangered man last seen months ago in Cottage Hill.
Corey Shane McBride, 39, last made contact with his family on January 1, 2026, according to the ECSO. He was last seen near the 1000 block of Wendy Drive, a private road off Parker Road.
He is 5 feet, 8 inches tall, 190 pounds, has brown hair and blue eyes.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Firefighters, Forest Service Battle 10-Acre Fire In Davisville
March 20, 2026
Firefighters and the Florida Forest Service spent hours battling a large brush fire in Davisville on Thursday afternoon.
The fire was reported just before 4 p.m. at Highway 97 and Greenland Road. According to Joe Zwierzchowski, Florida Forest Service spokesman, the fire reached about 10 acres in size.
Firefighters worked to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to residences in the area.
There was no immediate word on the cause of the fire.
The Walnut Hill, Century, Molino, and Cantonment stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue, the Atmore Fire Department, and the Nokomis Fire Department were dispatched to the fire, in addition to the Florida Forest Service.
Pictured: A wildfire burns along Highway 97 in Davisville on Thursday afternoon before the first firefighters arrive on scene. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cat Country 98.7 Named ACM Station Of The Year For Sixth Time
March 20, 2026
For the sixth time, Cat Country 98.7 has won the 2026 ACM Radio Station of the Year Award from the Academy of Country Music (ACM). The announcement was made in Nashville by the Academy of Country Music at the annual Country Radio Seminar.
The winners of the 61st Annual ACM Awards will be honored at the Academy of Country Music Awards show on May 17 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
“Our Cat Country 98.7 team’s dedication to our communities has always been our main priority, and it’s deeply satisfying when that commitment is recognized. To receive the ACM Station of the Year for these efforts is humbling and energizing for everyone here,” said Mary Hoxeng, general manager and owner of WYCT, Cat Country 98.7. “We are equally thrilled for our listener family; we all share this honor.”
Cat Country 98.7 was previously named the ACM Radio Station of the Year in 2005, 2008, 2010, 2019, and 2022.
Pictured: Brent Lane, morning host and program director of Cat Country 98.7 receiving the ACM award from country artist Parker McCollum in Nashville this week. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.