Beulah Man, Who Worked As School Custodian, Charged With Child Sex Crimes
October 21, 2025
A Beulah man who was working as a school custodian has been charged with trying to lure a child for sex.
Chad Lane Wren, age 56 of Beulah Road, was charged with soliciting or luring a child to engage in sexual conduct, traveling to meet a child for obscene purposes, and using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.
All of the charges filed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement are felonies. He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $30,000.
Wren resigned from his position of custodian at Blue Angel Elementary School.
“The safety and wellbeing of all students is our primary concern,” Escambia County Public Schools said in a statement. “The appropriate actions have been taken by your school district and law enforcement will follow through on these charges.”
FDLE Charges Gang Associate With Scheme To Smuggle Drugs Into Prisons Across Florida
October 21, 2025
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has charged a Miami man with a scheme to smuggle drugs into state prisons in Florida.
FDLE charged Dimy Paraison, 52, with a long list of serious felonies.
The 15-month investigation began in June 2024 when the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office (SRCSO) requested FDLE to assist in a drug smuggling investigation. A number of arrests made in Santa Rosa and Escambia County were identified involving the introduction of contraband through inmate visits.
During the investigation, Paraison was identified as an associate of the ZOE Pound Gang, a Haitian Criminal Street Gang. His position was to recruit individuals to smuggle narcotics and other contraband into several Department of Corrections (DOC) facilities throughout Northwest Florida.
Throughout the investigation, agents and DOC staff seized approximately 387 grams of substituted cathinones (bath salts), 1.2kg of marijuana, over 190 grams of Spice (synthetic cannabis), 123 strips of LSD, over 180 grams of methamphetamine, over 500 grams of tobacco, and four cell phones.
In February 2025, Paraison was stopped by Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) on his way to a contraband drop at a DOC Facility. He attempted to flee, and was arrested after a vehicle pursuit. He is currently in custody at Alachua County Jail.
FDLE charged Paraison with
- continuing a criminal enterprise (life felony)
- introduction of contraband (2nd degree felony)
- conspiracy to introduce contraband (3rd degree felony)
- conspiracy to traffic controlled substances (1st degree felony)
- trafficking in controlled substances (substituted cathinone) (1st degree felony)
- trafficking in controlled substances (methamphetamine) (1st degree felony)
- possession wits or deliver cannabis (3rd degree felony)
- use two-way communication device to facilitate a felony (3rd degree felony)
- money laundering (3rd degree felony)
Paraison’s bond was set for $1.5 million. The case will be prosecuted by the Office of Statewide Prosecution.
FDLE said the investigation is ongoing and active.
Students At 28 Escambia County School Can Qualify For Free Eye Exams, Glasses
October 21, 2025
A non-profit vision program is offering free eye exams and glasses to students at 28 schools in Escambia County.
The program is through the Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program, a subsidiary of Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, and provides comprehensive eye examinations with prescription glasses when needed at no cost to the family. It is funded by entities that include the Florida Department of Health and the Lions Clubs International Foundation.
“Each participating school must have at least 30 approved applicants in order to provide the service,” said Escambia County Public Schools Health Services Coordinator Betty Hagans, MSN, RN. ” I am hopeful that many students will benefit from this program.”
The program is available to qualified students in the following schools:
- A.K. Suter Elementary School
- Bellview Elementary School
- Bellview Middle School
- Beulah Elementary School
- Blue Angel Elementary School
- Bratt Elementary School
- Ensley Elementary School
- Ernest Ward Middle School
- Ferry Pass Elementary School
- Ferry Pass Middle School
- Holm Elementary School
- Hope Horizon Academy
- Jim Bailey Middle School
- Lincoln Park Elementary School
- Lipscomb Elementary School
- McArthur Elementary School
- Molino Park Elementary School
- Montclair Elementary School
- Myrtle Grove Elementary School
- Navy Point Elementary School
- Oakcrest Elementary School
- O.J. Semmes Elementary School
- Pensacola High School
- Pine Meadow Elementary School
- Pleasant Grove Elementary School
- Sherwood Elementary School
- Weis Elementary School
- West Pensacola Elementary School
Need to Know Info:
Florida students at a listed school
Low Income
Pre-k through 12 grade
Can reapply every school year
6-12 week processing time
All information is kept confidential and not shared with any other entity.
Melissa Venable Named Kingsfield Elementary Teacher Of The Year
October 21, 2025
v has been named the Kingsfield Elementary School Teacher of the Year.
From the school:
Family and friends are proud to celebrate Melissa Venable, who was recently named Teacher of the Year at Kingsfield Elementary.
With 18 years of teaching experience, Melissa has spent most of her career in kindergarten, shaping young minds with patience and love. When she was moved to 5th grade, she embraced the change with grace, humor, and heart. She’s known for her kindness, wit, and willingness to help anyone. Always putting others before herself.
This recognition is well-deserved for a teacher who gives her all to her students and school every single day.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
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.
