Flashback: Century Opened A Millennium Time Capsule In 2025. Here’s What They Found.
January 1, 2026
The Town of Century opened a millennium time capsule a year ago, finding a lot of wet items and a few notable glimpses at local history.
The time capsule was buried in front of the town hall on January 1, 2000, and set for opening in January 2025. Over the past 25 years, water filled the concrete vault. Murky, dirty, stinky water also infiltrated the plastic bags and other containers inside. Most of the newspapers and other paper items were mush. Many photos had been printed on inkjet printers of the day, and the photos had washed away.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Several people present for the opening discovered items that they had placed in the capsule, or items from now-deceased relatives. A form created by the town back in 2000 asked residents to write down what was in each bag, along with their contact information and heirs with the apparent intent of returning the items in 2025. The time for residents to claim items passed in late 2025.
Some residents took family items home, and the Alger Sullivan Historical Society took the rest of the items to dry out what they can and document.
And, in a bit of a surprise, the lid covering the vault was signed by numerous people, most if not all of were high school students (it’s pictured in the gallery).
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Local Drivers Continue To Get Holiday Break From Road Construction Lane Closures
January 1, 2026
Drivers in Florida will continue to get a break from road construction. Through 11:59 p.m. on Friday, January 2, there will be no lane closures or other activities that impede traffic on major state roads throughout the Florida Panhandle, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. The break from lane closures has been ongoing since Christmas Eve.
NorthEscamba.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Here’s Where To Watch The College Football Bowl Games
January 1, 2026
Here is where to watch the remaining college football bowl games.
All times are Central.
Friday, Jan. 2
12 p.m. | Rice vs. Texas State | Armed Forces Bowl (Fort Worth, Texas) | ESPN
3:30 p.m. | Navy vs. Cincinnati | Liberty Bowl (Memphis, Tenn.) | ESPN
7 p.m. | Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State | Duke’s Mayo Bowl (Charlotte, N.C.) | ESPN
7 p.m. | SMU vs. Arizona | Holiday Bowl (San Diego) | FOX
Thursday, Jan. 8
6:30 p.m. | Fiesta Bowl (CFP Semifinal) (Glendale, Ariz.) | ESPN
Friday, Jan. 9
6:30 p.m. | Peach Bowl (CFP Semifinal) (Atlanta, Ga.) | ESPN
Monday, Jan. 19
6:30 p.m. | College Football Playoff National Championship Game (Miami, Fla.) | ESPN
Molino Man With 14 Prior Felony Convictions Charged With Stealing Truck, Shoplifting, Weapon Possession
December 31, 2025
A Molino man with a lengthy criminal history is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly stealing a vehicle and shoplifting from a local retailer while armed with brass knuckles.
James Douglas Arnold III, 30, was arrested by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office following two separate incidents that occurred in mid-December.
According to arrest reports, the first incident began on December 12 at the Keeton Correctional Facility at 225 Brent Lane. A 2009 black Dodge Ram was reported stolen from the front of the building after the owner’s son left the keys inside the facility’s front office.
Later that same evening, deputies were dispatched to the Walmart at 8970 Pensacola Blvd regarding a theft in progress. Loss prevention officers reported seeing Arnold opening multiple pocket knives and a crossbow from their packaging, concealing the items, and discarding others around the store. When deputies detained Arnold, they reportedly recovered black brass knuckles from his pants pocket.
Arnold was not immediately jailed following the Walmart incident as he was transported to a local hospital after claiming he had ingested multiple Xanax pills.
On December 20, a deputy spotted the stolen Dodge Ram parked at a cul-de-sac on Ives Place. Arnold was located in the passenger seat and was found in possession of a”personal use” amount of fentanyl. Authorities also discovered a collection of tools, a mini machete, and a BB gun inside the vehicle that did not belong to the truck’s owner.
Investigators noted that Arnold, a 14-time convicted felon, also presented a bill of sale for the truck that the owner later identified as a forgery
Arnold is charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, and retail petit theft with prior convictions.
Here’s The New Year’s Holiday Closures And Trash Schedule You Need To Know
December 31, 2025
Here’s the New Year’s holiday closure list for government offices and the trash schedule you need to know.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
In observance of New Year’s, the following Escambia County offices will be closed Wednesday, Dec. 31 and Thursday, Jan. 1:
- Escambia County Board of County Commissioners (all departments)
- Escambia County Administration
- Escambia County Area Transit Administrative Offices
- Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare and Animal Shelter
- Escambia County Extension Office
- Escambia County Waste Services Administration
- West Florida Public Libraries (all locations)
- Escambia County Property Appraiser
- Escambia County Supervisor of Elections
Normal Escambia County operations will resume Friday, January 2.
TAX COLLECTOR
- Escambia County Tax Collector offices will be closed Wednesday, Dec. 31-Friday, Jan. 2.
PERDIDO LANDFILL
- The Perdido Landfill will close at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31 and remain closed Thursday, Jan. 1.
- The landfill will reopen with regular hours Friday, Jan. 2.
ECAT
- ECAT administrative offices will be closed Wednesday, Dec. 31 and Thursday, Jan. 1. Customer service offices will be closed Thursday, Jan. 1.
- ECAT will run modified holiday service Wednesday, Dec. 31:
- The last bus will depart from ECAT at 5:30 p.m.
- Commuter Route 60 will depart from ECAT at 6 p.m.
- FlexTransit will run regular service Wednesday, Dec. 31.
- ECAT will not run regular bus service or FlexTranist service Thursday, Jan. 1.
- Regular bus service and FlexTransit service will resume Friday, Jan 2.
ESCAMBIA CLERK OF THE COURT
- The Clerk’s Official Records, Finance, Treasury and Clerk to the Board offices at 221 Palafox Place will be closed Wednesday, Dec. 31.
- All offices of the Clerk of Court and Comptroller will be closed in observance of New Year’s on Thursday, Jan. 1.
ECUA
- ECUA offices will be closed Thursday, Jan. 1.
- Collection will be made on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. Friday’s collections will be on Saturday.
TOWN OF CENTURY
- Town of Century offices will be closed Thursday, Jan. 1 and Friday, January 2 for the Christmas holiday.
- Century trash collection will be on Wednesday, Jan. 30. Wednesday is the normal collection day.
Pictured: Palafox Place. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Former Coastal Alabama Community College President Arrested
December 31, 2025
The former president of Coastal Alabama Community College was arrested Tuesday.
Craig Pouncey, 67, was charged with multiple counts of use of position for personal gain. He was released on a $30,000 bond, according to Baldwin County Jail records. Exact details on the allegations against have not yet been released.
Pouncey was the Jefferson County (Alabama) School Superintendent and retired as president of Coastal Alabama in 2023.
Coastal Alabama Community College has campus locations in Atmore, Brewton, Bay Minette, Monroeville and other South Alabama towns.
Kimberly Ripley Named Escambia Westgate Teacher Of The Year
December 31, 2025
Kimberly Ripley was named the Escambia Westgate School Teacher of the Year.
“Ms Ripley makes science come alive, our students love going to Science Lab,” the school said.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Kenneth Atkinson Named Beulah Middle Teacher Of The Year
December 31, 2025
Kenneth Atkinson was named the Beulah Middle School Teacher of the Year. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Century Violent Sexual Predator Charged With Felony Registration Violation
December 30, 2025
A 67-year-old violent sexual predator from Century has been arrested for failing to register with the Florida Sexual Offender/Predator Registry.
Anthony Darnell Goldsmith was charged with a felony sexual predator violation for failing to register quarterly. He remains in jail without bond under the Jessica Lunsford Act.
Goldsmith was convicted of predatory sexual assault of a child in Cook County, IL, in 2005. He was then convicted of two sexual predator registration violations in Escambia County in 2008 and 2011.
He was also convicted in 2018 of indecent exposure for exposing and pleasuring himself at Panera Bread in Pensacola; he received 11 months in the county jail for that offense. In addition, he served a year in state prison for a 2002 aggravated assault case from Escambia County.
Century Mobile Home Fire Represented By Ninth Red Bulb On Fire Safety Wreath
December 30, 2025
A fire that destroyed a mobile home south of Century Sunday night is represented by the ninth red bulb during the Escambia County Fire Rescue “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign.
During the month-long campaign, a red bulb is added to five-foot wreaths for each residential or commercial fire with damage. The fire was reported shortly before 9 p.m. in the 5000 block of North Century Boulevard, just south of Elsie Davis Road.
Heavy flames were showing from the mobile home when firefighters arrived on the scene. The homeowner was able to escape the home without injury.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Florida Bureau of Fire, Arson & Explosives.
For more photos, click to enlarge.
The Century, McDavid, Molino and Walnut Hill stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue responded, along with the Jay and Flomaton fire departments, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
