Whataburger Insight: New Century Administrator’s First Day Starts With Impromptu Breakfast Meeting
September 4, 2025
New Century Town Administrator Dave Murzin’s first day on the job started earlier than he had planned, meeting with local citizens at the Whataburger during breakfast.
“It was early, not even 7:30 when I got to Century, and I decided to stop by Whataburger for breakfast,” Murzin said. “Hey, I recognize you from NorthEscambia.com. Why don’t you come over and talk to these guys?”
He said the group consisted of longtime area residents who asked how Century could be restored to the vibrant community that they remember, with a solid local economy.
“They said we need industry in here,” he said. “And they understand that we need to do something for a speculative industrial building to lure that industry.”
Related Story: Former Rep. Dave Murzin Inks Contract As Century’s First Town Administrator
Murzin said he spent the rest of the day, day one of his two-year contract, around town with Mayor Ben Boutwell learning about today’s Century and making a list of things to do.
“It’s a long list, and I’m still writing,” he quipped.
Pictured: New Century Town Administrator Dave Murzin after signing his employment contract Tuesday night at Century Town Hall. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Milbrandt Makes Strong Debut, But Wahoos Fall Again In Biloxi
September 4, 2025
Karson Milbrandt looked impressive in his Double-A debut for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Wednesday night, but an early lead slipped away in a 5-2 loss to the Biloxi Shuckers.
Milbrandt, at 21 the youngest player on the Blue Wahoos and the #20 prospect in the Marlins organization according to MLB Pipeline, struck out four batters over 4.2 innings after joining the club from High-A Beloit.
The Blue Wahoos jumped ahead 2-0 in the third inning against Shuckers starter Brett Wichrowski (W, 3-6), turning two walks and a Wichrowski throwing error into the game’s first run before Dub Gleed stayed hot with an RBI single. Gleed, who went 4-for-4 on Monday, collected three hits on Wednesday before being retired in his fourth at-bat. His streak of seven hits in as many at-bats was the most for a Blue Wahoos player since Jerar Encarnación, who matched the feat across two games in May 2022.
Milbrandt was scoreless entering the bottom of the fifth, when back-to-back RBI singles from Mike Boeve and Matthew Wood with two outs in the inning tied the game 2-2 and marked the end of his start.
Though Colby Martin (L, 1-1) stranded two of Milbrandt’s runners to escape a jam in the fifth, he left the bases loaded with two outs in the sixth inning for Evan Fitterer. A bases-loaded walk to Brock Wilken forced in the go-ahead run, giving the Shuckers a 3-2 lead.
Biloxi added insurance in the seventh and eighth innings, and Travis MacGregor (S, 2) worked a hitless ninth to earn the save in a 5-2 final. Though the Blue Wahoos are 12-11 against the Shuckers this season, they are now 2-9 in their games at Keesler Federal Park in Biloxi.
With the loss, the Blue Wahoos are now 5.0 games behind first-place Montgomery in the second half South Division standings with 10 games to play in the regular season.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Thursday.
No Injuries In Minor Cantonment School Bus Collision
September 3, 2025
There were no injuries in a very minor collision between a school bus and a pickup truck Wednesday morning in Cantonment.
It happened around 8:15 a.m. on Highway 29 south of Muscogee Road and involved an Escambia County Public School bus and a pickup truck. The only damage was minor scrapes on both vehicles.
Bus No. 27-21 was transporting students to Tate High School. Everyone involved refused transport to the hospital by Escambia County EMS.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not yet released the cause of the collision.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Tax Collector’s Molino Office Is Now Appointment Only
September 3, 2025
The Escambia County Tax Collector’s Molino and Downtown office are now appointment only as of today, September 3, in an effort to enhance efficiency and reduce wait times.
Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford said offering appointments at these locations will allow his office to better meet demand, eliminating spikes in traffic and decreasing or eliminate long wait times.
The new appointments are time-specific, replacing the previous “join the line” program which placed people in line in the order they joined.
“We will be able to serve as many or more people with appointment and setting timeframes,” Lunsford told NorthEscambia.com Tuesday afternoon when Molino still had numerous appointment slots open for Wednesday.
Lunsford also hopes to see citizens take advantage of more services that are available without the need to visit a tax collector office.
“There were probably 100 people in line this morning (Tuesday) doing transactions that they did not need to be in line for, that could have been completed online, by mail, or in a drive-thru,” Lunsford said. “We spend an enormous amount of time in the office on simple stuff.”
Click here to make an appointment.
Many tax collector services are available online at EscambiaTaxCollector.com, including:
- Tag renewals
- Electronic title printing
- Property tax payments
- Business tax receipt renewals
In addition, drive-thru services are available at the Molino, Brentwood, and Downtown offices, providing another fast and convenient option for completing transactions. There is no additional fee to pay online using an eCheck.
“We are going to do our dangest to get to everybody as fast as we can,” the tax collector added.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Sheriff’s Office Seeks Two Suspects In Retail Boot Theft
September 3, 2025
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is seeking two suspects in connection with alleged retail thefts from The Boot Store in late August.
Deputies said 50-year-old LaCarter Millionder and 49-year-old Angel Scott were caught on video taking merchandise from the store on August 22.
The store alleges that $1,000 in boots were stolen from the business on Pine Forest Road.
Deputies said Milloder already had active warrants for thefts and violation of community control, while Scott was already wanted on three active warrants for petit theft, which have now been upgraded to felonies.
The Boot Store originally alleged in a social media post that a third individual was involved in the thefts, but the ECSO said Tuesday that she was not.
“Upon reviewing the store’s video surveillance, it was determined that the white female previously posted to The Boot Store social media page as a ‘potential suspect’ was not involved in any theft and did not appear to be working in conjunction with Millionder and Scott,” the ECSO said in a statement.
Former Rep. Dave Murzin Inks Contract As Century’s First Town Administrator
September 3, 2025
Former state Rep. Dave Murzin signed his employment contract as Century’s first town administrator Tuesday night after the town council unanimously approved his employment.
He will be paid $112,000 per year plus benefits using funds allocated in the town’s annual budget.
Murzin represented District 2 in the Florida House from 2002 until 2010 when he was term-limited. Before serving in the Florida House, he was a legislative aide to Florida House Majority Leader Jerry Maygarden and then worked as Northwest Florida director for State Sen Greg Evers. In 2014, he made the shortlist of candidates for the Florida Public Service Commission.
He has extensive experience in legislative leadership, economic development, and disaster recovery, having worked closely with local governments across Northwest Florida. He currently is a director of First Place Partners, representing economic development in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
“I’m ready to get to work to make Century a better place,” Murzin said Tuesday night.
“One of the things that originally brought us to the need for a town administrator was transparency,” Dynette Lewis, president of the Century Town Council, said Tuesday night. “That’s one of the things that we need — transparency. We need to know exactly what’s going on; we need somebody that’s able to dissect our items, break down the agenda items, and let us know what the recommendation is, and we need to know what the financial impact is.”
In a meeting last week, Florida Sen. Don Gaetz praised Murzin and Mayor (Ben) Boutwell for being in a position to make progress for the town.
“Now I believe that Century has every reason to go forward and be progressive,” Gaetz said. “It is because we have Mayor (Ben) Boutwell and we have representative (Dave) Murzin. We have their city council who are getting things done and moving the city forward.”
Century interim town manager Howard Brown’s final day will be Friday.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Mark Your Calendars: Date Set For Beulah Christmas Parade
September 3, 2025
Mark you calendar — the date has been set for this year’s Beulah Christmas Parade.
The parade will roll at 1 p.m. on Saturday December 6.
Registration will open in late October.
Pictured: The 2024 Beulah Christmas Parade. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two Escambia Men Facing Federal Methamphetamine Charges
September 3, 2025
Two Escambia County men are charged in a federal indictment with a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Ronald Dale White, 39, and Darius Rafael Whisler, 33, were indicted by a federal grand jury, charging them with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and multiple counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Ronald White was also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Both were arraigned in federal court last week and are set for trial October 6 before U.S. District Judge M. Casey Rodgers in Pensacola.
If convicted, White and Whisler face up to life imprisonment.
Tate Aggies Sweep Washington; Northview Slips To Neal
September 3, 2025
In a triple-header of volleyball action Tuesday night, the Tate High Aggies secured a clean sweep against the Washington Wildcats at every level—varsity, junior varsity, and freshmen. Meanwhile in East Brewton, the Northview varsity and junior varsity squads fell to W.S. Neal.
Tate Aggies 3, Washington 1
The Tate Aggies the first two sets 25-16 and 25-20, while Washington took the third 25-22. The Aggies claimed the victory 25-22 in the final set.
Tate 2, Washington 0
The Tate High Aggies junior varsity volleyball team dominated Washington, winning their match in two straight sets. Both sets were decisive victories for the Aggies, with identical scores of 25-12.
Tate 2, Washington 1 (Freshmen)
The Tate High Aggies freshmen volleyball team defeated the Washington High Wildcats in a three-set match.
After dropping the first set 30-25, the Aggies rallied to win the next two sets. They took the second set 25-13 and clinched the match with a 15-11 victory in the final set.
Northview, W.S. Neal
The W.S. Neal Lady Eagles varsity volleyball team emerged victorious in a hard-fought five-set battle against the Northview Chiefs Tuesday night in East Brewton.
While the Chiefs fought hard, the Eagles were able to secure the victory in a tense fifth set.
Earlier in the evening, the Neal junior varsity squad swept the Northview Chiefs JV team in two straight sets.
FWC Hunter Safety Courses This Month In Molino, Cantonment, Jay, Milton
September 2, 2025
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering free hunter safety internet-completion courses in Molino, Cantonment, Jay and Milton. Hunter safety courses are designed to help students become safe, responsible and knowledgeable hunters and learn about conservation.
Participants must take the online course before attending a class.
All firearms, ammunition and materials are provided free of charge. Students should bring a pen or pencil and paper. An adult must accompany children younger than 16 at all times.
Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975, must pass an approved hunter safety course and have a hunting license to hunt alone (unsupervised). The FWC course satisfies hunter-safety training requirements for all other states and Canadian provinces.
The two-day events will be held as follows, and you must have completed an online hunter safety course and have a copy of the completion certificate or field day voucher prior to taking a Range Day (listed bottom).
ESCAMBIA COUNTY In Person Classes
- September 8, 6 p.m. — Escambia County Extension, Cantonment
- September 15, 6 p.m. — Molino Community Center
- October 6, 6 p.m. — Escambia County Extension, Cantonment
- October 13, 6 p.m. — Molino Community Center
SANTA ROSA COUNTY In Person Classes
- September 22, 6 p.m. — Jay United Methodist Church
- September 29, 6 p.m. – Extension Office, Milton
- October 20, 6 p.m. — Jay United Methodist Church
- October 27, 6 p.m. — Extension Office, Milton
RANGE DAY
- October 4 or November 1 at 9 a.m.
Those interested in attending a course can register online and obtain information about future hunter safety classes or by calling FWC safety coordinator Jeff Schumacher at (850) 767-3612 for more information or email.