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.
Powerball Rolls Over To $1.3 Billion; Winning $1 Million Ticket Sold In Escambia County
September 2, 2025
No one won the $1.1 billion top prize in the Powerball drawing Monday night, but one quick pick ticket sold in Escambia County won a $1 million second tier prize, for matching five numbers.
The ticket was sold at the Greer’s Perdido Bay Market at 12255 Lillian Highway and matched five numbers, one of several Match 5 tickets sold across the country and the only one sold in Florida.
The next Powerball jackpot drawing on Wednesday night is worth an estimated $1.3 billion or a cash payout of $589 million.
Monday night’s winning numbers were:
8-23-25-40-53
PB: 5
PowerPlay: 3
Century Man Sentenced After DUI, Fleeing Crash, And Driving Home
September 2, 2025
A Century man was sentenced for fleeing a DUI crash and driving home in a case brought by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Willie Eugene Cottrell, now 68, was sentenced to 12 months probation for DUI and was cited for leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, and his driver’s license was also suspended for 12 months.
On June 6, Cottrell veered off the road, overturned his Nissan Versa, and hit a wire fence on Highway 4A near Bass Road, according to an FHP report. The vehicle made at least one rotation before coming to a final rest on its tires. Cottrell then called 911, and Escambia County Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded.
He became verbally abusive to EMS personnel in the back of an ambulance and fled through the rear doors, according to an arrest report, before getting back in his Nissan and driving home about 1.5 miles to his residence on Backwoods Road.
A trooper responded to his residence, noting he smelled strongly of alcohol and was slurring his words. He refused a field sobriety test, but the trooper said his impairment from alcohol “was extreme and obvious” and placed him under arrest. Cottrell later provided two breath samples, both showing a breath alcohol content of 0.164, over twice the legal limit of 0.08, according to the arrest report.
Bonus Photos: Northview Chiefs Fans, Band, Cheerleaders
September 2, 2025
The Northview Chiefs dropped their home opener to Opp Friday night 26-14.
For a bonus photo gallery including the band, fans, student section, and cheerleaders, click here.
For a game action story and photos, click here
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Dub’s Birthday Doubles Not Enough In Wahoos Loss To Shuckers
September 2, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos began a pivotal road series against the Biloxi Shuckers with a 6-3 loss on Monday night.
Playing on Labor Day for the first time since 2019, and playing on a Monday for just the third time in five years, the Blue Wahoos out-hit the Shuckers 11 to 8 but couldn’t overcome an early deficit.
First baseman Dub Gleed, celebrating his 23rd birthday, was 4-for-4 with three doubles, tying a franchise record last set by Royce Lewis in 2019.
Right fielder Fenwick Trimble, named the Southern League Player of the Week earlier in the afternoon, made a strong first impression in the field in the first inning. With two on and two outs, Shuckers designated hitter Mike Boeve made a bid for a three-run homer before Trimble reached over the right field wall to make an impressive catch.
Gleed’s first double of the night scored Mark Coley II from second base in the second inning to give the Blue Wahoos a 1-0 lead. That would be the only run allowed by Biloxi starter Tyson Hardin, who worked 2.1 innings in his continued return from a lengthy stay on the injured list.
Blue Wahoos starter Alex Williams (L, 4-4), saved from a Boeve homer by his right fielder in the first inning, surrendered a two-run shot to Garrett Spain in the second inning for a 2-1 Biloxi lead. The Shuckers added on in the third, loading the bases before a Darrien Miller RBI groundout extended their advantage to 3-1.
Three more Biloxi runs scored on a pivotal play in the fourth, as Cooper Pratt lifted a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to Trimble in right field. An errant relay throw from second baseman Payton Green sailed into foul ground, emptying the bases and putting the Shuckers ahead 6-1.
The Blue Wahoos got two back in the fifth inning on back-to-back RBI doubles from Michael Snyder and Jared Serna off Zach Peek (W, 6-2), but clutch hits eluded them the rest of the night. Two runners were stranded in scoring position in the seventh inning, and Abdiel Mendoza (S, 1) left runners at the corners in the ninth to seal a 6-3 final.
With the loss, the Blue Wahoos are now 4.5 games behind first-place Montgomery in the second half South Division standings with 11 games to play in the regular season.
After an off day Tuesday, the Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Wednesday.
Escambia County Unemployment Up Only Slightly
September 1, 2025
The Escambia County unemployment rate increased only slightly over the last month.
Escambia County and the Pensacola metro area education and health services sector added 1,000 jobs over the year in July 2025, FloridaCommerce announced. The Pensacola metro area added 200 jobs (+0.3%) in the private sector over the year in July 2025.
The area labor force was down 0.8% (-1,930) over the year in July 2025. The Escambia County unemployment rate increased to 4.5% in July 2025, up from 4.4% in June and 4.0% a year ago, according to the latest release from the state.
Florida’s statewide unemployment rate was 3.7 percent in July 2025 and has been lower than the national rate for 57 consecutive months since November 2020.