Lipscomb Elementary Names Students Of The Month
December 8, 2025
Lipscomb Elementary School recently named its Students of the Month for November. They are Naomi Truitt and Nyle Wright. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
A Christmas Miracle: Tate High Hosts Miracle League’s Annual Christmas Party (With Gallery)
December 8, 2025
Santa visited with Miracle League of Pensacola players during their annual Christmas party Friday night at Tate High School.
For the past eight years, Tate Beta Club, sponsored by Stacye Litton, has hosted the Christmas Party for the athletes and the families. Numerous other Tate High student organizations and volunteers came together to put on the party including Early Childhood Education, Diamond Girls, Tate Theatre, Chorus, Gatsby Girls and S2S,.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Miracle League players were able to visit with Santa and share their wish lists, enjoy a spaghetti dinner, and take part in numerous activities.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
New Subdivision Planned For Beulah Church Road
December 8, 2025
A new subdivision is being proposed for Beulah.
The 25-lot single family residential subdivision would be located on 9.9 acres on the south side of Beulah Church Road.
The application was filed by Hammond Engineering on behalf of developer Eric Patrick of B&W Utilities, Inc. in Cantonment. It states that there is one existing single-family residence on the property, which is located between Rebel Road and Beulah Road.
Florida Gas Prices Down A Dime Over The Last Week
December 8, 2025
Florida gas prices have steadily declined over the past two weeks. During that time, the state average dropped 19 cents per gallon, falling from $3.12 per gallon to $ 2.92 per gallon.
According to AAA <Sunday’s state average of $2.92 per gallon is 10 cents less than last week, three cents more than last month, and 13 cents less than this time last year.
In Escambia County, the average was $2.75 a gallon. Sunday night, a low of $2.52 was at a station on Chemstrand Road, and the North Escambia low was $2.56 at one station on Highway 29 in Cantonment.
“Drivers should expect gas prices to bounce back this week,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Over the past year, we’ve seen a consistent pattern: when prices fall for two straight weeks, they typically climb 10–20 cents shortly after. This is part of the normal price-cycling behavior, where retailers adjust prices to attract customers and stay competitive in the market. So far this year, Florida gas prices have bounced between $2.84 per gallon to $3.23.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Federal Prison For Escambia Man For Role In Drug Trafficking Operation From Texas
December 8, 2025
An Escambia County Man has been sentenced on federal charges for conspiracy to traffick drugs from Texas to Escambia County.
Charlie N. Steans, 58, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute large amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine.
Court documents reflect that Steans was caught at a Greyhound Bus Station in Houston, Texas, with approximately 10 kilograms of methamphetamine and one kilogram of cocaine hidden in his luggage in early 2023. He was able to bond out of a Texas state jail after being caught only to be arrested again in late-2024, this time on a Greyhound Bus in Mississippi heading toward Pensacola with nearly four kilograms of cocaine in his possession.
At that point, law enforcement from multiple jurisdictions connected Steans to being an interstate transporter of large amounts of drugs between Texas and Florida with the drugs destined for Pensacola. Steans was then taken into federal custody based on charges out of the Northern District of Florida.
“Our agents and law enforcement partners will continue to fight those trafficking poisons into our Florida communities,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “Whether by bus, tractor trailer, plane, or boat, we will find you and bring you to justice.”
The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Pensacola Police Department; the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office; the Florida Department of Law Enforcement; and the Florida Highway Patrol.
Good Samaritans Grab Saws, Open Blocked North Escambia Highway
December 7, 2025
North Highway 99 was completely blocked near Oak Grove late Friday, just north of Pine Barren Creek, after a tree fell across the roadway. However, thanks to the swift actions of several good Samaritans, the road was cleared without having to wait for a county crew to arrive.
Citizens, working together, managed to cut up the fallen tree and remove the debris from the highway. The cooperative effort and community spirit quickly restore the normal traffic flow as the hazard was removed from the county road.
An Escambia County Public Works crew removed the debris from the roadside Friday evening
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
State To Seek Death Penalty For Man Indicted For Sexual Battery Of Child, Murder, Arson And Animal Cruelty After Trailer Fire
December 7, 2025
Prosecutors have announced that they will seek the death penalty for an Escambia County man indicted for murder, sexual battery of a child, arson and animal cruelty.
A grand jury returned indictments last month against John Henry Walston, Jr., for two counts of first degree murder, one count of sexual battery of a child under 12, one count of arson, and one count of animal cruelty.
State Attorney Ginger Madden said Friday that he office will seek the death penalty if Walston is convicted of the deaths of the children.
A jury trial date was set for January 26, 2026, following a docket court appearance on January 13, 2026. Any motions that may be filed in the case could delay the trial date.
In the early hours of November 7, 2025, emergency responders were called to a house fire on Flaxman Street where two children and a dog were found deceased inside the home. During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that Walston allegedly sexually battered one of the children before he killed both children by cutting their throats before he set the house on fire.
Highway 29 Small Retail Development Proposed With Drive-Thru Restaurant Near West Roberts Road
December 7, 2025
A new small retail development is in the works for Highway 29 south of West Roberts Road.
According to an Escambia County Development Review Committee (DRC) application filed by Hughes Development of Mobile, a 1.81-acre lot adjacent to Coast Equipment (north of the Dollar General) would be home to 11,750 square feet of buildings.
A drawing filed with the county shows a 10,000 square foot building with a rear loading area and a small drive-around quick serve restaurant of 1,750 square feet. The development is proposed with 56 parking spaces, according to the drawing, with a single driveway access to Highway 29.
The nature of the businesses, other than one building being used for a quick serve restaurant, is not revealed in the application.
The development is set for a pre-application meeting with the DRC at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday at the Escambia County Central Complex Building at 3363 West Park Place.
NorthEscambia.com graphics.
First Red Bulb Placed On Wreath After Residential Fire
December 7, 2025
The first red bulb was placed on “Keep the Wreath Green” wreath in 2025 following a fire last week.
Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to a residential structure fire in the 1200 block of Trammel Boulevard at 9:39 a.m. Thursday. Firefighters arrived to find that flames and smoke were visible from a single-story wood-framed home. Firefighters quickly attacked the fire, bringing the incident under control by 9:47 a.m.
Two dogs died as a result of the fire. ECFR conducted the investigation and determined that an extension cord plugged into a bedroom outlet experienced an electrical failure and caused the fire.
The American Red Cross is providing assistance to the displaced occupants.
During the month-long “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign, five-foot wreaths will be on display at 18 county fire stations and five city fire stations, along with several government building. Each time firefighters respond to a residential or commercial fire with damage, a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by fires in residential and commercial buildings.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Volunteer Wanted For West Florida Public Library Board of Governance
December 7, 2025
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking county residents interested in volunteering to be considered for an appointment to the West Florida Public Library Board of Governance.
The duties of the board include establishing policy and overseeing the management of Escambia County library services and making recommendations to the BCC regarding the annual budget according to the purposes and authority set forth in resolutions, interlocal agreements and other agreements, as well as state and federal laws. These duties also include establishing an annual plan of service and the long-range strategic planning of library services.
West Florida Public Libraries provides service to all of Escambia County, with the board typically meeting on the fourth Monday of the month from 4-6:30 p.m.
Residents interested in serving on the board are asked to submit a resume and letter indicating their desire to serve by 5 p.m on Friday, January 9, 2025 . Resumes should be submitted to Christal Bell-Rivera, Interim Director, West Florida Public Libraries, 239 N. Spring St., Pensacola, FL, 32502 or by email to cbrivera@mywfpl.com.
Resumes submitted to a BCC agenda for consideration will become part of the official minutes and are subject to public records requests.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.