Cottage Hill Water Works: Boil Water Notice For Williams Ditch Road
June 6, 2026
UPDDATE: This boil water notice was lifted on June 9.
Cottage Hill Water Works has issued a boil water notice for 24 Williams Ditch Road to 609 Williams Ditch Road due to a water main break.
There was a water main break at 230 Williams Ditch Road on Saturday morning. Neighboring streets may experience low water pressure. Crews were working as quickly as possible to make the necessary repairs.
The utility is advising, as a precaution, that all water in the area that is used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes be boiled. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient. As an alternative bottled water may be used.
This precautionary boil water notice will remain in effect until the problem has been corrected and a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink.
For more information, contact the utility’s office at at (850) 968-5485
This story will be updated when the boil water notice is rescinded.
Qualifying Week Begins Monday for Escambia County, Century and Pensacola Races
June 6, 2026
Qualifying week begins Monday for local countywide, independent special district and municipal candidates seeking office.
The official qualifying period will begin at noon, Monday, June 8, and end at noon, Friday, June 12. Qualifying takes place at the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections, 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor, in Pensacola, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. A special in-person qualifying event will be held on June 10 from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the Century Town Hall, 7995 North Century Boulevard.
Two Escambia Commission seats are on this year’s ballot—District 2, currently held by Mike Kohler, and District 4, held by incumbent Ashlee Hofberger. Both have prefiled.
The primary election is August 18, and the general election is set for November 3.
Local Offices Up for Election (2026)
County Commission (Partisan)
- County Commissioner, District 2 (4-year term)
- County Commissioner, District 4 (4-year term)
Judiciary (Nonpartisan)
- County Judge, Group 2 (6-year term)
School Board (Nonpartisan)
- School Board Member, District 1 (4-year term)
- School Board Member, District 2 (4-year term)
- School Board Member, District 3 (4-year term)
Special Districts (Partisan)
- Emerald Coast Utilities Authority, District 2 (4-year term)
- Emerald Coast Utilities Authority, District 4 (4-year term)
Special Districts (Nonpartisan)
- Santa Rosa Island Authority (2-year term)
- Escambia Soil and Water Conservation District, Groups 1, 3, and 5 (4-year term)
City of Pensacola (Nonpartisan)
- Mayor (4-year term)
- City Council: Districts 2, 4, and 6 (4-year terms)
Town of Century (Nonpartisan)
- Town Council: Seats 3, 4, and 5 (4-year terms)
Flomaton Police Charge Man With Sexual Abuse
June 6, 2026
The Flomaton Police Department has arrested a man after an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse.
The Flomaton Police Department arrested Anthony Lucero; he was charged with sexual abuse and booked into the Escambia County (Alabama) Detention Center. According to Police Chief Justin Hetrick, officers launched an immediate investigation after the allegations were disclosed to law enforcement, subsequently establishing probable cause for the arrest.
Hetrick said the case remains an active investigation.
“The Flomaton Police Department is committed to thoroughly investigating allegations involving crimes against children and vulnerable persons and will continue to work diligently to ensure the safety of our community,” Hetrick said.
From Century Sewage To Escambia Radios: Requests That Didn’t Make the Florida Budget
June 6, 2026
The proposed Florida budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year includes millions of dollars of funded, and partially funded, projects for Escambia County.
Those projects include nearly $1.2 million for Century water and sewer projects, funds for an Escambia River Electric Cooperative water project, ECUA, and Escambia County public safety needs.
However, a huge Escambia County project and a relatively large Century project were not included in the state budget, which awaits the signature of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has the power to veto line items.
The unfunded projects for Escambia County and Century are:
Escambia County Radio System Upgrade — $38 million
Escambia County requested $38 million to replace the county’s aging P25 UHF radio system with a modern 800 MHz trunked platform. The upgrade would have renewed all hardware and software for fire, EMS, law enforcement, transit and public works, in addition to improving interoperability with regional partners during major incidents and planned events.
“The 2012 system nears end-of-life in 2030, and failure may risk public safety,” the appropriations request stated.
Century WWTP Motor Control $1.061 million
The Town of Century requested $1.061 million for a wastewater treatment plant motor control center (MCC) replacement. The town said parts on the current MCC routinely fail, and the age of the system makes it difficult to find replacement parts. The MCC replacement is a requirement set forth by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
Escambia Felon Sentenced To Federal Prison For Possession of Firearms
June 6, 2026
An Escambia County felon has been sentenced on federal firearms charges.
Jason Wayne Coleman, 41, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
This serial felon has been a criminal menace to our communities for far too long, but thanks to the excellent work of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office with support from our federal law enforcement partners, he will now spend years behind bars where he belongs,” John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, said “This successful prosecution by my office is yet another win under Operation Take Back America, through which President Donald J. Trump and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche have directed the Department of Justice to deploy its full might toward removing violent career criminals, like this defendant, from our streets to deliver the safe, crime-free communities our citizens deserve.”
Court documents reflect that the defendant, a multi-time convicted felon who is legally barred from possessing firearms, was out on bond after being arrested in Indiana for firearm-related charges in January 2022. On October 2, 2024, a deputy with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was on routine patrol when he conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Coleman. He attempted to flee on foot from the deputy, but was apprehended. In addition to having a suspended driver’s license, Coleman was found to be in possession of a loaded .32 caliber handgun under the driver’s seat of the vehicle as well as marijuana.
Coleman was arrested but was able to bond out of jail.
On May 13, 2025, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a motorized minibike being driven by the defendant. While arresting Coleman for driving on a suspended license and resisting law enforcement, deputies located a loaded .38-caliber revolver in his pocket.
The case involved a joint investigation by the ATF and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
FCA Presents Softball, Baseball Extra Inning Awards
June 6, 2026
The Northwest Florida Fellowship of Christian Athletes recently named their Extra Inning winners from area softball and baseball teams.
Winners included Northview Baseball’s Jackson Bridges, Tate Baseball’s Bryton McLellan, and Tate Softball’s Emorie Nelson.
Winner were:
SOFTBALL
- Escambia — Armani Westbrooks
- Gulf Breeze — Sally Alberson
- Milton — Faith Cain
- PHS — Alexiah Federico
- Pensacola Catholic — Aubree Baldwin
- Pine Forest — Kelsey Bumgarner
- Tate — Emorie Nelson
- West Florida Tech — Leianna Wagner
BASEBALL
- East Hill — Brayden Page
- Escambia — Caleb Bates
- Milton — Sayler Melton
- Navarre — Connor Dobson
- Northview — Jackson Bridges
- PHS — Gianni Dian
- Pensacola Catholic — Reed Rhodes
- Tate — Bryton McLellan
- West Florida Tech — Keelan Boyd
- PSC — Jackson Kohr
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Blanked 4-0 By Lookouts
June 6, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell to the Chattanooga Lookouts by a final score of 4-0 on Friday night as hits came too few and far in-between to put runs on the board for the home side.
Lookouts starter Johnathan Harmon (W, 5-2) dominated with seven strong innings, relenting just two singles to the Blue Wahoos while striking out six. Pensacola’s Orlando Ortiz-Mayr (L, 0-2) put up his longest outing of the season, dealing six innings that saw six hits, three earned runs, a lone walk and five strikeouts.
With tonight’s loss, the Blue Wahoos (27-28) fell below the .500 mark for the first time since May 22. The Lookouts (29-25) improved to 3-1 in the series and have held Pensacola to just two total runs across the past three games.
Dillon Lewis, Cristian Hernández and Juan Matheus were the only Blue Wahoos to record a hit on the night, each being singles. It proved difficult for Pensacola to string together productive at-bats as the Lookouts defense turned three 6-4-3 double plays to prevent any buildup of momentum.
Back-to-back doubles put Chattanooga up in the second inning as Ruben Ibarra doubled home Ryan McCrystal with a liner down the third baseline. Ibarra raced home on a single into center by Cade Hunter in the following at-bat, giving the Lookouts the early 2-0 edge.
Chattanooga extended their lead in the fifth as a Jay Allen II single sent home Carlos Jorge. They’d add another in the top of the ninth with a Dominic Pitelli double into the corner of right field, scoring Zavier Warren to solidify the 4-0 shutout.
Pensacola relievers Holt Jones, Livan Reinoso and Colby Martin offered an inning of work each following Ortiz-Mayr’s exit after the sixth. In their combined three innings, the trio allowed two hits, a walk and one run.
written by Maddy Branning
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Lookouts on Saturday night.
Century Looks for Solutions To Address Yard Trash Can Frustrations
June 5, 2026
Residents and town officials are not happy with the services provided by Waste Pro, the town’s first new solid waste provider in over 30 years. However, officials say it’s not Waste Pro’s fault.
Specifically, town council members are expressing concern with the “black can.” It’s a green can with a black lid intended for yard waste, and they say it’s not practical to fit many tree limbs and other yard debris in the can.
“I’ve tried and tried,” Council member John Bass said at a council meeting earlier this year. “You just can’t.”
The single can for yard waste was negotiated by the town and is in their contract with Waste Pro, which costs town citizens $10.47 per month more than the rate charged by the previous provider. The town sought a new provider after determining that it was losing money on solid waste and a grapple truck used to collect yard waste was simply beyond repair.
During an open discussion this week, council members discussed revisiting the contract and trying to find solutions to return to collecting a higher volume of yard waste—without forcing citizens to fit everything into a single can.
“We just had two different understandings…so it’s really no one’s fault. Now we just need to try to get together to figure out a solution,” Bass said Tuesday night. “All I’m trying to say is let’s get into a discussion.”
“Our ultimate goal is to make sure that our citizens are being taken care of,” Council President Dynette Lewis said. “They’re speaking, and we’re hearing.”
Mayor Ben Boutwell agreed that improvement is needed, but the town must find a way that does not mean the town reverts to losing money.
“100%. I will take care of the citizens, but the Town of Century isn’t losing money, and that’s what it boils down to,” Boutwell said. “I’m not being ugly here, I promise you. I love my community, but we have to run it as a business.”
Pictured: A Waste Pro sanitation truck turns on a Century street. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Didgeridoo Down Under Show Visits Century Library; Coming To Molino Saturday
June 5, 2026
An epic adventure to “The Land Down Under” came to life on Thursday at the Century Branch Library, bringing Australian music, culture, and high-energy fun to local residents.
The library hosted the Didgeridoo Down Under Show, an interactive performance that fused comedy, character building, and storytelling with loads of audience movement. Attendees moved and grooved to the pulsing, otherworldly rhythms of the didgeridoo—an instrument played by Aboriginal Australians for at least 1,500 years.
The educational and motivational show also introduced the audience to amazing Australian creatures like a live blue-tongued skink and several plushies.
The Didgeridoo Down Under Show will be presented again at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Molino Library.
NorthEsambia.com photos and video click to enlarge.
Driving Exams For Teens Available Saturday, June 6 During Special Event
June 5, 2026
The Escambia County Tax Collector’s Office has opened a limited number of Saturday driving test appointments for new drivers taking their first road test.
Appointments will be available on Saturday, June 6, at the Brentwood Office at 5045 North Palafox. These testing slots are intended for first-time drivers seeking to earn their Florida driver license.
Due to limited availability, eligible customers are encouraged to schedule their appointments as soon as possible. Appointments must be made online at EscambiaTaxCollector.com.
