Century And Flomaton Team Up For America 250 Celebration With Flyover, Fireworks (Gallery)
July 4, 2026
Hundreds of area residents celebrated America’s 250th and the Independence Day weekend on Friday in Century.
The event, a joint celebration presented by the towns of Century and Flomaton, was held at Anthony Pleasant Park and the adjacent Showalter Park. There were food trucks, arts and crafts vendors, and fireworks after dark.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Following the national anthem, the Commemorative Air Force performed a vintage aircraft flyover featuring a Soviet-built Yak and a Beechcraft T-34.
The celebration ended with a fireworks show.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Free Admission To Florida State Parks For The Independence Day Weekend
July 4, 2026
Admission is free to all state parks in Florida through Sunday to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary,
Florida’s award-winning state parks offer unrivaled outdoor recreation opportunities across a vast range of landscapes, from caverns to wetlands to springs to beaches. Visitors will find activities for everyone, including hiking, camping, wildlife viewing, swimming, paddling and horseback riding. Cultural and historical resources include forts, battlefields, archaeological sites and historic landmarks.
Parks with free admonishing in Northwest Florida include Yellow River Marsh Preserve State Park in Milton, Perdido Key State Park in Escambia County, Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park on Bauer Road, Big Lagoon State Park, Blackwater State Park, and Blackwater Heritage Trail.
“While every July 4th is special, we recognize this Independence Day is a significant moment in our nation’s history,” said FDEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. “I invite all Floridians, their friends and their family to our state parks to enjoy the outdoors, make new memories and support our treasured public lands.”
Free admission applies to day-use only and excludes Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Skyway Fishing Pier State Park and Weeki Wachee Springs State Park. All other fees, including overnight accommodations, special events, concessions and rentals from park vendors, will remain in effect.
Pictured; Big Lagoon State Park at 12301 Gulf Beach Highway in Pensacola. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Are Fireworks Legal For The Fourth In Escambia County?
July 4, 2026
Are fireworks legal for the Fourth of July? The short answer is yes, but there are a few things to know.
Escambia County allows fireworks on designated holidays, including the Fourth of July. Fireworks are also allowed in Escambia County on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, which mirrors state law.
The City of Pensacola bans fireworks in the city limits except for permitted public fireworks displays. Sparklers are allowed.
Noise ordinances remain in effect for the Fourth of July, except as waived for permitted public fireworks displays.
Escambia County ordinances prohibit fireworks in county parks and recreational areas (including Pensacola Beach), except for permitted public displays.
The Town of Century does not have specific fireworks ordinances on the books, so Escambia County ordinances apply.
File image.
Two Motorcyclists Killed After Being Thrown Over I-110 Overpass In Crash
July 4, 2026
A Navarre man and woman were killed Thursday night after their motorcycle collided with a concrete barrier on I-110 near the Pensacola Bay Center, causing them to fall from the overpass.
State troopers reported that a motorcycle was traveling northbound just after 8:30 p.m. when it veered off the roadway and onto the inside shoulder, striking a concrete traffic barrier.
The impact threw both the 43-year-old male driver and the 45-year-old female passenger from the motorcycle. Both individuals fell over the edge of the overpass and were pronounced deceased at the scene by emergency personnel.
FHP confirmed that both the driver and passenger were wearing helmets at the time of the crash. Their identities have not been released.
Escambia County Offers Fireworks Safety Tips
July 4, 2026
Escambia County is offering fireworks safety tips for this Fourth of July.
The most important tip: If you spot a brush or wildfire or if someone is injured, call 911.
RELATED STORY: Are Fireworks Legal For The Fourth In Escambia County?
Fireworks and Sparkler Safety Tips from Escambia County Fire Rescue
- Only purchase state-approved sparklers from licensed vendors.
- Read and follow all warnings and instructions.
- Do not use any unwrapped item that may have been tampered with.
- Light at arm’s length and then stand back.
- Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.
- Never hold a lit firework item in your hand.
- Make sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks.
- Never have any portion of your body directly over a sparkler or firework when lighting the fuse.
- Only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface away from the house and flammable materials.
- Keep a bucket of water, sand, or a fire extinguisher handy in case of a malfunction or fire.
- If your fireworks fizzle and don’t go off, consider them duds and douse them with water. Never relight a dud.
- Discard all products safely. Submerge used sparklers and fireworks in water prior to placing in household trash bins.
Rocket City Rain Dampens Wahoos’ Bats In 4-1 Loss
July 4, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos dropped their third game in a row on Friday night, enduring a long pregame rain delay before falling 4-1 to the Rocket City Trash Pandas.
The contest began at 8:01 after a 1-hour, 26-minute rain delay, and Rocket City immediately jumped ahead against Blue Wahoos starter Orlando Ortiz-Mayr (L, 2-3) in the first inning. Nick Rodriguez singled, Raudi Rodriguez doubled, and Tucker Flint brought them both home with a two-run single. The Trash Pandas added two more in the third inning with a Flint RBI double and a Caleb Bartolero RBI triple for a 4-0 lead.
The Blue Wahoos couldn’t solve reigning Southern League Pitcher of the Week Nate Snead (W, 2-3), who worked 6.0 innings of three-hit ball. The only Pensacola run came on a solo homer from Connor Caskenette in the top of the fifth inning.
Ortiz-Mayr picked up the taxed Pensacola bullpen by completing 6.0 innings, and Luis Palacios contributed 2.0 scoreless innings of relief, but the Blue Wahoos bats couldn’t get anything going against the Rocket City relievers. Luke Murphy (S, 15) finished off a 4-1 final with a flawless ninth, earning his league-leading 15th save.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Trash Pandas on Saturday night.
Written by Erik Bremer
Man Killed In Tractor Accident Near Century
July 3, 2026
A man was killed near Century midday on Thursday when he was crushed by a tractor, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The accident occurred at about noon at a residence on Bass Road, just off Highway 4A. Deputies said the man was near the tractor when it moved for an unknown reason and he was crushed. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Further details, including the man’s name, have not been released.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
2-Year-Old Airlifted In Critical Condition After Being Rescued From Apparent Septic Tank
July 3, 2026
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a 2-year-old child was airlifted to the hospital in critical condition Thursday afternoon after being rescued from an apparent septic tank off East 10 Mile Road.
According to ECSO Sgt. Melony Peterson, the child had been reported missing to the ECSO shortly before being discovered. Deputies described the location as a septic tank, though officials noted it was not immediately clear if it was a traditional septic tank or another type of drainage structure, or how the child fell inside. ECSO investigators were still working Thursday afternoon to determine exactly what happened at the trailer park on Motley Court.
The toddler was flown to an area hospital aftering being rescued. An update on the child’s condition was not immediately available.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Veterans Services Holds Outreach Event In Molino (Gallery)
July 3, 2026
The Escambia County Veterans Services Office held an outreach event in Molino on Thursday.
Veterans Services Office staff members were able to help veterans with reviewing VA benefits, filing a VA claim, and re-evaluating VA disability.
Other organizations offering assistance to veterans also took part in the outreach event at the Molino Community Center.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge
Big Inning Downs Wahoos In 16-6 Loss To Rocket City
July 3, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell to the Rocket City Trash Pandas in a marathon game by a final score of 16-6 on Thursday night.
The Wahoos started off hot. Cam Cannarella, Cristian Hernández, and Fenwick Trimble all reached in the first inning to load the bases for new-comer Brandon Compton. And Compton delivered by crushing an opposite field grand slam to give Pensacola a quick 4-0 lead. It was the second grand slam of the season for the Blue Wahoos and the second grand slam of Compton’s career.
After the first inning was played, the game would go into a rain delay that would last one hour and 43 minutes before the game would resume again. Once the field was ready for action, Rocket City grabbed two of those runs back on an RBI single from David Calebrese and a run-scoring single from Nick Rodriguez. That made the score 4-2.
The Wahoos extended their lead in the 4th when Cristian Hernández hammered a 2-run homer, his second straight game with a longball, to bring the lead back to four and the score to 6-2. This would be the last of the Pensacola offense for the night.
The Trash Pandas grabbed a run in the 4th thanks to a sac-fly from Jake Munroe and then proceeded to unload an 8-run inning in the 6th, punctuated by a grand slam from former Blue Wahoo Jake Thompson. This blast made it an 11-6 ballgame at the time, but Rocket City wasn’t done. They would put two more up in the 7th and three more up in the 8th to bring the score to a merciful 16-6. Because of the rain delay, Eliazar Dishmey, Pensacola’s starter, did not return after the first inning, meaning all 16 runs were allowed by the Wahoo bullpen. Colby Martin (L, 2-4, BS, 2) took the loss while Lucas Mahlstedt (W, 2-0) grabbed the win.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Trash Pandas on Friday night.
written by Charlie Hobert