Woman Charged With Election Petition Fraud In Local Counties
September 11, 2025
A 24-year-old Miami woman has been charged with 72 counts each of petition fraud and perjury by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
The FDLE investigation into Jessica Sonia Humphreys began in January 2023 when agents received information from the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections about what appeared to be numerous fraudulent petitions related to the constitutional amendment regarding marijuana use. The fraudulent petitions were submitted by Humphreys who was a paid petition gatherer for “Smart and Safe Florida”. The investigation revealed that 38 counts of petition fraud.
During the investigation, FDLE agents also contacted the Santa Rosa County Supervisor Elections (SOE) and inquired about any petitions that may have been submitted by Humphreys in their county. The SOE notified the investigators about several potentially fraudulent petitions submitted by Humphreys and ultimately revealed that Humphreys had submitted 34 petitions using fictitious names.
FDLE agents contacted Humphreys at her residence in Miami Gardens and she confirmed she was a paid petition gatherer for several counties in North Florida, including Escambia and Santa Rosa.
In November 2023, FDLE agents obtained two arrest warrants for Humphreys: one for the crimes committed in Escambia County and one for the crimes committed in Santa Rosa County.
On January 29, 2024, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office arrested Humphreys on 34 counts of petition fraud and 34 counts of perjury derived from the FDLE arrest warrant issued for the Santa Rosa County crimes. Humphreys posted bail and failed to appear in the scheduled court hearing.
On August 15, 2025, the Coral Springs Police Department arrested Humphreys during a traffic stop on 38 counts of petition fraud and 38 counts of perjury based on the FDLE arrest warrant issued for her Escambia County crimes. She was transported to the Broward County Jail and later extradited to the Escambia County Jail. She will also face charges for her failure to appear at her Santa Rosa County court hearing.
The Office of the State Attorney, First Judicial Circuit, is prosecuting the case.
Legislators Hear Funding, Policy Requests During Molino Meeting
September 10, 2025
Local governments, nonprofits and citizens had a chance to address the Escambia County Legislative Delegation Tuesday evening at the Molino Community Center. The delegation is comprised of Florida Rep. Michelle Salzman, Rep. Alex Andrade and Sen. Don Gaetz.
A few members of the general public addressed the delegation on issues ranging from concurrency, development and flooding, to long-term and healthcare and comments about the legislators’ responsibility to citizens. Most of the speakers had funding and program requests for the non-profits community service organizations and programs.
Local governments were also able to bring forth appropriation requests for the upcoming legislative session.
Gaetz cautioned that the legislature cut $3 billion from the state budget last session, and the cuts will continue.
“My prediction is that this year, we will spend $2 billion less,” he said. “So consequently, if you think were tight last year, you ain’t’ seen nothing yet.”
Some of those governmental requests or comments were:
CENTURY
Century Mayor Ben Boutwell thanked the legislators for previous state funding that is currently leading to ongoing projects in the town.
“We realize the state will face fiscal constraints in the coming years. With that in mind, our request will be focused and strategic. We will be asking for assistance with projects stimulating economic growth, directly address health and safety issues for residents,” Boutwell said. “These are the investments that will have the greatest long term impact on Century’s future,” Boutwell said. “Together, we can strengthen what we call Blackcat Pride…Thank you for your continued support. With your help, Century will continue to rise.”
ECUA
Emerald Coast Utilities Authority Executive Director Bruce Woody said ECUA was requesting funding for a sewage expansion project in West Ensley. The project service boundaries would be Jones Street to the south, Highway 29 to the west, Barber Street to the north, and Orange Avenue to the east.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Escambia County will request funding for a South Navy Boulevard improvement project, public safety improvements for the Escambia County emergency communications system, and a water quality and flood mitigation project. The county will also support legislation to allow county code enforcement to designate vessels as derelict, which must now be done by other agencies.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
“Let’s do what we can during the legislative session to make certain that students are being educated in their public schools and that those school districts are receiving the funding. There is some discrepancy in how the vouchers are being used versus school district funding,” Escambia Public School Superintendent Keith Leonard told the delegation. “We need your help.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cat Country 98.7 Cat Pak Morning Show Nominated For CMA Award
September 10, 2025
The Cat Country 98.7 Cat Pak Morning Show has been nominated as one of five radio shows nationwide for the 2025 CMA Broadcast Personality of the Year Award for small markets from the Country Music Association (CMA).
The announcement was made Tuesday morning in Nashville by the CMA.
The Cat Pak Morning Show previously won the award for CMA Broadcast Personality of the Year in 2022.
The winners of the 59th Annual CMA Awards will be honored during the November 19 ABC telecast from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville to been seen locally on WEAR 3.
Flomaton Police Seek Vehicle Theft Suspect
September 10, 2025
The Flomaton Police Department is seeking the public’s held in identifying a vehicle theft suspect.
The man allegedly stole a silver car (pictured behind him” from an employee at the We Care Thrift Store in Flomaton.
Anyone with information on the alleged theft is asked to call FPD Sgt. Clay Smith at (251) 296-5811.
After Five-Year Closure, Bidding Process Underway To Replace Freedom Road Bridge In Century
September 10, 2025
The Freedom Road bridge in Century has been closed for five and a half years, and bids are finally being accepted for a replacement bridge.
“I’m excited about it. My big thing is removing the delays for EMS, the fire department, and school buses. It’s about safety,” Mayor Ben Boutwell said Tuesday afternoon. “It will also mean convenience for residents there. They will have their street back.”
On January 29, 2020, the town suddenly closed the bridge on Freedom Road, just east of Jefferson Avenue. Photos obtained by NorthEscambia.com a few days later showed the dangerous conditions that led to the emergency closure. Several pilings under the wooden bridge were no longer properly supporting the structure, and some of the pilings were split or had extreme deterioration (pictured left and below).
On Tuesday, the town held a pre-bid conference with two contractors interested in bidding on the construction of a replacement bridge. Bids are due by October 7.
Century received a nearly $1.257 million legislative appropriation for a new Freedom Road bridge, and about $1 million remains for construction after project design and permitting, according to the town’s engineer, Dale Long.
Construction will begin in very late 2025 or very early 2026. The project is set to be completed within 280 days of start, which would put the new bridge in place in the second half of 2026.
The big delay in the project to date, according to officials, was waiting for a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit.
File photos/graphics for and by NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Volleyball Sweeps Choctaw in Road Victories
September 10, 2025
In a clean sweep Tuesday night for Tate volleyball, all three Aggies teams came away with victories on the road against Choctaw.
Tate 3, Choctaw 1
The Tate High Aggies varsity volleyball team mounted a spirited comeback to defeat Choctaw in four sets on Tuesday night.
After dropping the second set, the Aggies responded with tenacity, taking the third and fourth sets to seal the victory. The final scores were 25-21, 19-25, 25-23, and 25-23.
Up next, the Tate Aggies will travel to Pace on Thursday night.
Tate 2, Choctaw 1 (JV)
The Tate High Aggies JV volleyball team showcased their determination in a three-set victory over Choctaw on Tuesday night.
After a strong start, the Aggies took the first set with a score of 25-21. Choctaw fought back fiercely in the second set, evening the match with a 25-18 win. In the deciding third set, Tate’s players rallied and dominated the court, securing a decisive 15-12 victory to clinch the match.
Tate 2, Choctaw 1 (Freshmen)
The Tate High Aggies freshmen volleyball team overcame an early deficit to defeat Choctaw in a hard-fought, three-set match on Tuesday night.
After dropping the first set in a nail-biter, 25-23, the Aggies rallied with strong play in the second, winning 25-21. The momentum carried into the final and decisive set, ultimately taking the set 18-16 to win the match.
Milbrandt Masterful In 4-0 Wahoos Win
September 10, 2025
The Blue Wahoos didn’t have a big night at the plate.
But on this night, they didn’t need one.
Taking advantage of errant pitching, the Blue Wahoos scored all four runs without a run-scoring hit and cruised their way to a 4-0 victory against the Columbus Clingstones to begin their final series of the season Tuesday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The Blue Wahoos got a run in the second inning off a wild pitch, then loaded the bases in the fourth inning and scored three runs with on a bases-loaded walk and pair of wild pitches from Columbus starter Drue Hackenberg.
That was the ballgame.
Blue Wahoos starter Karson Milbrandt, making his second start since joining the team from the High-A level Beloit Sky Carp, was outstanding. He worked six innings, gave up just three hits, no walks and recorded six strikeouts to earn his first Double-A win.
The win pushed the Blue Wahoos (66-67 overall, 32-32 second half) closer to a winning second half and season record, which would be the goal now that the team has been eliminated from post-season.
Milbrandt, 21, set a tone, throwing 60 strikes on 89 pitches and showing the depth and quality of pitching within the Miami Marlins minor league system. He’s rated as Miami’s No. 17 prospect overall in the latest MLB Pipeline rankings.
It became another rough outing for Hackenberg (2-7, 7.01 ERA), who entered the year ranked No. 12 in the Atlanta Braves system. He was the Braves’ second-round pick in 2023 out of Virginia Tech.
In the second inning, the Blue Wahoos Payton Green drew a one-out walk. He then stole second and scored when Hackenberg threw a wild pitch that caromed toward the Blue Wahoos dugout, allowing Green to score.
There was one out in the fourth inning when Hackenberg walked Colby Shade with the bases loaded, scoring Tony Bullard who had singled. With two out, Hackenberg uncorked two more wild pitches that scored Green and Gage Miller for the 4-0 lead and ended Hackenberg’s outing.
Three relievers, newcomers Chase Centala and Jack Sellinger along with Jesse Bergin, all delivered shutout innings to follow Milbrandt and end the game in 2 hours, 19 minutes.
GAME NOTABLES
— Earlier Tuesday, six Blue Wahoos players, Dub Gleed, Gage Miller, Emaarion Boyd, Colby Martin, Jack Sellinger and Connor Caskenette, joined in the morning with group sales executives Jessica Voigt, Jada Washington and Hannah Moret in traveling to the Feeding the Gulf Coast warehouse location in East Milton.
The group spent 90 minutes packing food gift boxes for elderly residents in the area. All of this prior to Tuesday night’s game. This has been a recent annual project for the Blue Wahoos to aid volunteer efforts organized by Feeding the Gulf Coast.
— Before the game, the Blue Wahoos announced several roster moves. Top relievers Josh Ekness and Nigel Belgrave were elevated to Triple-A Jacksonville. Righthanded pitcher Xavier Meachem was added from the Beloit Sky Carp.
— Righthanded pitcher Will Schomberg was named the Southern League pitcher of the week, following his memorable performance last Friday in Biloxi. He took a perfect game into the seventh inning, finishing with a career-high seven innings pitched, allowing three hits in the seventh, but compiling 10 strikeouts in the game to match a career best.
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: Blue Wahoos 2025 Final Series
WHO: Columbus Clingstones vs. Blue Wahoos
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
WHEN: Wednesday Through Sunday. Gametimes are at 6:05 p.m. through Saturday; a special 1:05 p.m. start for Sunday’s final game of the season.
Armed Escambia Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty To Federal Firearms And Narcotics Possession
September 10, 2025
An Escambia County man has pleaded guilty to federal firearm possession and narcotics charges.
Terrance Josiah Fasold, 31, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Court documents state that law enforcement was investigating Fasold regarding a stolen firearm. Law enforcement located Fasold at the Red Roof Inn in Pensacola, Florida. Fasold fled from law enforcement and discarded a bag containing more than 40 grams of fentanyl. A search of Fasold’s hotel room was conducted and law enforcement located more fentanyl, as well as cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, and several loaded firearms. Fasold is a convicted felon and has multiple prior felony convictions for drug related offenses.
Fasold faces up to life imprisonment, and a lifetime of supervision upon release.
“I deeply appreciate the hard work by our state and federal law enforcement partners to get this violent drug trafficker off our streets,” said U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida John P. Heekin.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 19, 2025, at 3:00pm at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
Century Grants Tentative Approval To Lower Tax Rate, $9.2 Million Budget
September 9, 2025
The Town of Century on Monday approved a tentative $9.2 million budget for the next fiscal year and a property tax rate that is, by definition, a tax decrease.
The town council approved a tentative millage rate of .9204, the same rate that has been in place for several years.
That is 7.85% less than the rolled-back rate of .9988 mills, according to filed documents. The rolled-back rate is a computed millage rate that would generate the same amount of ad valorem tax dollars as the prior fiscal year, based on the proposed year’s tax roll, excluding new construction. While Century’s tax rate will hold steady, it is by definition a tax decrease as it is lower than the rolled-back rate.
Property tax is expected to generate $59,680 for the town budget.
Both the tentative budget and millage rate passed on a 4-0 vote with council member John Bass not present.
The town council will consider final approval of the $9,203,199 FY 2025-26 budget and millage rate during a special meeting at 5:01 p.m., on Monday, September 22. The meeting is open to the public at town hall.
Elementary School Open Houses Thursday Night
September 9, 2025
Elementary school open house events in Escambia County will take place Thursday night.
See the list below for your school. (Note that some open houses were held Tuesday night.)
THURSDAY
- Bellview , 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Beulah , Grades K, 2, 4 – 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Grades 1, 3 , 5 – 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.”
- Blue Angels , 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Brentwood , 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Byrneville , 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (Title I meeting 5:00 – 5:30 p.m.)
- Cordova Park , 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Escambia Westgate , 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Ferry Pass , 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Global , 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Hellen Caro , 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Jim Allen , 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Kingsfield , 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Lincoln Park , 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- McArthur , 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Molino Park , 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Montclair , 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Myrtle Grove , 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Navy Point , 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Pleasant Grove , 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Scenic Heights , 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Semmes , 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Suter , Grades K-2 – 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Grades 3-5 – 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Weis , 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- West Pensacola , 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
PREVIOUSLY HELD TUESDAY
- Bratt, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Ensley, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Holm, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Longleaf, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Oakcrest, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Pine Meadow, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Sherwood, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Warrington, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.