Amateur Radio Field Day Is This Weekend With Free Demonstrations
June 26, 2026
Amateur Radio’s biggest annual event is this weekend.
The Five Flags Amateur Radio Association, in partnership with Escambia County Emergency Management, Escambia County ARES, BRACE, and Escambia Search and Rescue, invites the public to attend the 2026 ARRL Field Day event from 11 a.m. Saturday, June 27 until noon on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Escambia County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on W Street.
(Note that the ECO is a location charge from prevous years’ event at Ashton Brosnaham Park.)
Field Day is the largest annual Amateur Radio operating event in North America. Each year, thousands of Amateur Radio operators across the United States and Canada set up temporary radio stations in parks, emergency operations centers, community locations, and outdoor sites to practice portable communications and demonstrate the value of Amateur Radio in public service and emergency preparedness.
During Field Day, local Amateur Radio operators will demonstrate how amateur radio can be used to communicate locally, nationally, and internationally using voice, digital, and other radio communication methods. The event will also highlight the ability of Amateur Radio operators to communicate when cell phones, internet service, and commercial power may be unavailable.
This year’s event brings together several community partners with a shared focus on preparedness, emergency communications, volunteer service, and public education. Escambia County Emergency Management, BRACE, Escambia County ARES, Escambia Search and Rescue, and the Five Flags Amateur Radio Association all play important roles in helping strengthen local readiness and community resilience.
The public is invited to visit the Field Day site, meet local Amateur Radio operators, see radio equipment in operation, and learn how Amateur Radio supports emergency communications, weather awareness, public service events, technical education, and disaster preparedness.
“Field Day is part emergency communications exercise, part public demonstration, and part open house,” said Paul Stefon, K7PCS, President of the Five Flags Amateur Radio Association. “It is a great opportunity for the public to see how Amateur Radio works and why it remains an important communications resource, especially during hurricanes, disasters, and other emergencies.”
The 2026 Field Day event follows the recent presentation of an official Escambia County proclamation recognizing the service of Amateur Radio operators. The proclamation was presented at the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners meeting on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
No Amateur Radio license is required to attend Field Day. Visitors are welcome, and club members will be available to answer questions about getting licensed, radio equipment, emergency communications, and how to become involved.
Kids Enjoy Animal Tales At Century Library; Molino Program Is Saturday
June 26, 2026
Kids enjoyed “Animal Tales Presents Fossils Alive: Dinosaurs Among Us” on Thursday morning at the Century Library.
The program features several exotic animals with involvement through verbal participation, educational skits, and hands-on activities.
The Animal Tales program will be presented on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Molino Library.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ibarra Continues to Torment Wahoos in 10-3 Loss
June 26, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos dropped game 3 of their 6 game set with the Chattanooga Lookouts by a final score of 10-3.
Eliazar Dishmey (L, 0-1) struggled in his second straight start for the Wahoos, going just 4.0+ innings and allowing 5 runs on 3 hits and tying a career high with 6 walks. Meanwhile, Lookouts starter Javi Rivera (W, 1-4) kept the Pensacola offense in check. He gave up just 2 runs on 3 hits and 6 strikeouts.
Chattanooga took a 7-0 lead in the first 5 innings off of Dishmey, Kade Bragg, and Luis Moreno. The Wahoos were able to scrape across a pair of runs in the top of the 6th. Payton Green led off with a double and advanced to third on a Cam Cannarella single, a basehit that extended his hitting streak to 10 games. Aiva Arquette brought him home on a groundout to third and Juan Matheus scored Cannarella with an RBI single, bringing the score to 7-2.
The Lookouts had an answer though, and snatched those two runs right back on a home run from Ruben Ibarra, his 11th of the year and his 6th against the Wahoos this season, and an RBI double from Julio Carreras, which brought the Lookouts lead back to 7.
Down 9-2, Pensacola would fight back for one more. With the bases loaded in the top of the 8th, Ryan Ignoffo grounded out to the pitcher, but brought home a run in the process to make the score 9-3.
Ruben Ibarra made sure to get a parting shot in before the game was up, as he launched his second homer of the game off of Colby Martin in the bottom of the 8th. That brought his total to 12 on the year and 7 against the Wahoos in 2026 alone.
That score would prove to be fatal for the Wahoos, as they would fall by a final of 10-3 on Thursday night, dropping their record to 37-35.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Lookouts on Friday night.
written by Charlie Hobert
Nine Mile Road Costco Is Now Open (With Gallery)
June 25, 2026
The long-anticipated Nine Mile Road Costco is now open.
Hundreds of people were in a line that stretched from the entrance around to the back of the building at 225 East Nine Mile Road as a ribbon cutting was held at 7:30 a.m.
“Have your membership cards, or your digital membership card ready,” employees exclaimed as the line steadily streamed inside where members were required to scan their cards for entrance. Without a membership card, some would-be shoppers were turned away to buy a membership under tents outside the store.
An hour later, hundreds had made their way inside, replaced by newly arriving throngs of people that still stretched the line around to the back corner of the massive 172,580-square-foot store. There were very few, if any, available parking spaces in the 830-space lot.
“We used to wait in long lines for concerts,” a middle-aged lady standing in line with her friends said. “Now we wait in line at Costco.”
There was also a line to enter the liquor store.
The full-line warehouse has a tire center, food court with those famous $1.50 hot dogs, offers hearing aids, an optical department, pharmacy and many more products and services. There is also a standalone gas station for members only out front.
Once inside, shoppers were quick to check out big-screen TVs just inside the door, while others headed straight for the meat department.
“They have really good beef, the best really,” one shopper said.
An hour after the ribbon cutting, there was no line, no waiting at most of the checkouts — shoppers were still exploring the store, topping off their buggies, or enjoying free food samples.
How much is a Costco membership?
Membership is required for in-store shoppers at Costco. Members must be 16 or older to apply. The pharmacy is open to anyone, regardless of membership.
Also note that in-store
Costco offers two levels of membership for individuals or businesses:
Executive: $130 annually
- Annual 2% Reward
- Costco Services Discounts
- Shop Online and in Warehouses
- Includes 2 Membership Cards
- 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
Gold Star: $65 annually
- Shop Online and in Warehouses
- Includes 2 Membership Cards
- 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
Businesses can purchase either level to purchase items for resale or add additional people at $65 each.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Decomposed Body Found Outside Ensley Walmart
June 25, 2026
A heavily decomposed body was found on Thursday morning outside the Ensley Walmart Supercenter on Pensacola Boulevard, just a few hundred feet from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office 4th Precinct on Hood Drive.
Morgan Diaz, ECSO public information officer, said the male’s body was found in an area with shrubbery near the loading dock of the store.
She said it did not appear initially that foul play was involved, but the investigation is continuing. The cause of death is yet to be determined by the Medical Examiner’s Office.
Submitted photos by Matthew Kennell for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No CPA, No Adviser: Century Runs Finances Unsupervised For Months
June 25, 2026
The Town of Century has spent most of the year operating without a CPA or a signed contract for a financial advisor.
At the most recent town council meeting, Town Clerk Carrie Moore said that the town’s previous CPA was Robert Hudson of Atmore.
“The last time I think we saw him was probably the first week in January,” she said. “No signed contract.”
“To my knowledge, we’ve never had a signed contract with him (Hudson) for a while,” Mayor Ben Boutwell added.
“We have actually been working with a gentleman by the name of Jack. He’s a retired auditor with Warren Averitt,” Town Clerk Carrie Moore told the town council recently. “He’s done nothing but municipal accounting, pretty much governmental accounting is all he’s done.”
“Jack” is Jack Rowell, a retired accountant who voluntarily relinquished his CPA license, according to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
“We’ve actually been in contact with him and gave him some background on what’s going on,” Moore said. “We’ve been talking with him on just the different issues that we’ve got and seeing what his take is on it is kind of thing, seeing if he can help. He would be interested in coming in. I can’t say part-time or whatnot.”
“He (Rowell) would be someone that we close up the books at the end of the month; he would review everything and when it came time for the audit,” Moore continued. “He would make sure your audit was where it needed to be before it was done.”
The town council has taken no action to formalize a contract with Rowell or seek bids from any CPAs.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
International Paper Employees Scholarship Foundation Awards $6,000 In College Scholarships
June 25, 2026
The I.P. Pensacola Employees Scholarship Foundation, Inc. has announced the recipients of its annual college scholarships. This year, three outstanding high school seniors have been awarded scholarships to support their higher education pursuits.
The foundation awarded three scholarships of $2,000 each to:
- Landon Haveard, Troy University
- Rylee Mohler, University of South Alabama
- Brody Neal, University of West Florida
For more than 40 years, these scholarships have been awarded to high school seniors who demonstrate academic excellence. Eligibility criteria include being a child of a current or retired employee of the International Paper Pensacola Mill, acceptance into an accredited institution of higher learning, and submission of an application accompanied by a qualifying ACT score.
“We are proud to invest in the future of our employees’ families by awarding these scholarships,” said Hamilton Hewlett, president of the I.P. Employees Scholarship Foundation. “It reflects our commitment to honoring the contributions of our workforce.”
Pictured top: Brody Nea, Landon Haveard, and Rylee Mohler. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECUA Appoints New Executive Director
June 25, 2026
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority has appointed Jason Yarborough as its next executive director following an extensive interview process. Yarborough is expected to begin serving in the role on Monday, July 6.
He replaces Bruce Woody, who retired after nearly six years in the position.
Yarborough brings more than 30 years of local government executive and operational experience, including senior leadership responsibility for water, wastewater, reclaimed water and solid waste services. His career includes service as a city manager, deputy city manager and utilities director in Florida communities experiencing rapid growth, infrastructure demands and complex public service needs.
Prior to joining ECUA, Yarborough served as deputy city manager for the City of North Port, Florida, for the past eight years. In that role, he oversaw the utilities, public works and developmental-services departments, supervising more than 400 employees and managing a $182 million budget.
Accepting the role as ECUA’s executive director serves as a homecoming for Yarborough. He grew up in Pensacola, graduated from Escambia High School and later returned home to earn a Master of Public Administration from the University of West Florida.
“Serving as executive director of ECUA is both a professional responsibility and a personal honor,” Yarborough said. “I grew up in Pensacola, and I understand how important reliable water, wastewater, sanitation and environmental services are to the quality of life in this community. My focus will be on supporting the board’s priorities, listening to employees and customers, strengthening operations and ensuring ECUA continues to provide dependable, cost-effective service.”
Yarborough’s professional background includes extensive work with elected and appointed boards, employee teams, developers, regulators, regional partners and community stakeholders.
He also holds a Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University, and completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He is a credentialed manager through the International City/County Management Association (ICMA-CM).
FHP: Cantonment Woman Claims Meth In Her Purse Was Witchcraft Healing Crystals
June 25, 2026
A Cantonment woman claiming to possess healing “crystal rocks” used in “witch craft” was arrested on felony drug charges following a June traffic stop in Cottage Hill.
According to a Florida Highway Patrol arrest report, a trooper initiated a traffic stop on a white Nissan four-door near McKenzie Road and Highway 95A. The vehicle’s license plate was found to belong to a 2000 black Ford pickup truck.
While conducting a vehicle inventory, the trooper discovered a methamphetamine bong in plain view on the front passenger floorboard, an item the passenger, Haley Victoria McLemore, 32, would have had to step over to exit the vehicle, the report states. A subsequent search of the back seat revealed a purse containing a glass methamphetamine pipe with residue and a small baggie of a crystal substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine.
When questioned about the illegal contraband, McLemore denied knowledge of the drugs and insinuated they belonged to the driver. However, when asked about separate rocks found within two suede bags inside her purse, McLemore offered an unusual defense, explaining to the trooper that they were “crystal rocks” which held healing powers and that she used them in her “witch craft” practices, according to the report.
McLemore was booked into the Escambia County Jail and charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $3,000 bond
The driver of the vehicle, 46-year-old Anthony Roberts, faces misdemeanor traffic charges including driving with a suspended license, failure to register a motor vehicle, and operating a vehicle without liability insurance. He was released on a $1,500 bond.
River Levels Dropping: Escambia River Crests, Perdido Falling
June 25, 2026
The Escambia River has crested, and the Perdido River is falling without significant additional rainfall.
Escambia River
A flood warning continues through Sunday morning for the Escambia River at Century as minor flooding is still occurring.
Wednesday night, the stage was 18.1 feet, and the river is forecast to fall below flood stage of 17 feet early Sunday morning and continue falling to 15.7 feet Monday evening.
Perdido River
All warnings have expired for the Perdido River at Barrineau Park.
Wednesday night, the stage was 5.08, below flood stage of 9 feet, and continuing to fal