Former Legislator Dave Murzin Selected As Century Town Administrator
August 20, 2025
The Century Town Council voted Tuesday night to hire former state representative Dave Murzin of Cantonment as the town’s next full-time administrator.
The council voted 3-1 to approve Mayor Ben Boutwell’s recommendation of Murzin, with Shelisa Abraham absent and council president Dynette Lewis casting the dissenting vote without making additional comment.
The vote authorized Boutwell to negotiate an employment agreement with Murzin for final council approval at their next regular meeting on September 2nd.
Murzin is currently the director of First Place Partners, representing economic development in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. He is a former state representative. He has extensive experience in legislative leadership, economic development, and disaster recovery, having worked closely with local governments across Northwest Florida.
“I have worked closely with local governments across Northwest Florida to address critical infrastructure needs, secure funding, improve constituent services, and grow resilient economies. I’ve successfully managed multimillion-
dollar initiatives, built strong intergovernmental partnerships, and led emergency recovery efforts in coordination with local agencies and stakeholders.,” Murzin wrote in his application letter. “I understand the challenges small towns face and have a deep appreciation for the importance of strong leadership, operational integrity, and responsive governance.”
Sparkie Harrison Sworn In To The Century Town Council
August 20, 2025
Sparkie Harrison was sworn in Tuesday night to Seat 5 on Century Town Council.
Harrison was elected to the position without opposition. She has served on the council on a temporary appointed basis for the past few weeks.
She fills the seat left vacant when council member Sandra McMurray-Jackson resigned in early May.
Harrison’s term will expire in January 2027.
Pictured above: Century Mayor Ben Boutwell holds the Bible as Sparkie Harrison is sworn in Tuesday night. Pictured below: Harrison is congratulated by Judge Scott Ritchie. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview JV Beats PHS, Varsity Slips To The Tigers
August 20, 2025
In a night of mixed results, the Northview and Pensacola High volleyball teams split their matches on Tuesday, with Northview’s JV squad claiming a victory while the Tigers’ varsity team swept the Northview varsity.
Northview JV 2, PHS 1
The Northview High School JV volleyball team clinched a hard-fought victory Tuesday night against the Pensacola High Tigers JV in a captivating match that went down to the wire.
Northview started strong, dominating the first set with a decisive 25-15 win.
However, the Tigers roared back in the second set, taking it 25-21 and evening the score, setting up a deciding set. In a nail-biting finish, Northview held their nerve, securing the third set 16-14 to claim the overall match.
PHS 3, Northview 0
The Pensacola High School Tigers’ varsity volleyball team defeated the Northview Chiefs in three straight sets Tuesday night in Bratt.
PHS won the first set 25-22, setting the tone for the match.
They continued to play strong in the second and third sets, winning 25-21 and 25-10 respectively to secure a decisive victory.
For a varsity photo gallery from the third set, click here.
Up next, Northview will host Flomaton on Monday, August 25.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Iconic Civil Rights Leader H.K. Matthews Passes Away At 97
August 20, 2025
Iconic local civil rights leader Rev. H.K. Matthews, has passed away at age 97.
Matthews marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 1960s, was gassed and beaten on “Bloody Sunday” in 1965, and led sit-in lunch counter protests. In the 1970s, he led protests that led to the removal of the “Rebel” mascot from Escambia High School in Pensacola, and he led numerous protests that eventually led to his arrest and serving 63 days of a five year prison sentence. He was later pardoned.
After moving to Brewton, Alabama, he continued as a civil rights leader in South Alabama and Northwest Florida. The City of Pensacola renamed a park in his honor in 2006, and a street in Brewton was named after him in 2016.
In 2008, he worked to help Century keep the F-rated Carver/Century K-8 School and solve other local issues.
“There are a lot of things that are lacking as far as living in Century goes,” Matthews said during a 2008 meeting at Century Town Hall. “We are trying to find some answers to the problems that exist.” The school closed permanently a few months later.
Pictured: Rev. H.K. Matthews leads a meeting in 2008 at the Century Town Hall. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Sheriff’s Office Issues Warning About Warrant Scam. Here’s How It Works.
August 20, 2025
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is once again warning about another warrant scam.
According to the ECSO, the scam involves callers identifying themselves as members of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. These imposters then claim that the recipient of the call has an outstanding warrant related to missed jury duty and demand payment to resolve the issue. Adding to the deception, the phone number displayed on caller ID may even appear similar to an official ECSO number, making it difficult for unsuspecting victims to immediately identify it as fraudulent.
“The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office will never call you and ask you to pay any amount of money,” the ECSO Said. “Do not send any form of payment or plan any meet-up if you receive a call such as this.”
Tate Aggies Beat The Crestview Bulldogs
August 20, 2025
The Tate Aggies varsity volleyball team defeated the Crestview Bulldogs in a conference match on Tuesday night, winning 3-1. The Aggies overcame an early deficit after dropping the first set in Crestview.
The Bulldogs started strong, winning the first set 25-21. However, the Aggies quickly recovered, battling back to win the second set by the same score, 25-21. This momentum carried through to the rest of the match.
The Aggies dominated the third set, taking a commanding 25-17 victory. In the final set, Crestview fought to stay in the game, but Tate’s consistent play secured the set 25-22, sealing their comeback victory.
Up next, the Aggies will travel to Navarre on Thursday.
Williams Leads Wahoos To Shutout Win Over Clingstones
August 20, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos began a pivotal road series against the Columbus Clingstones with a 3-0 shutout win on Tuesday night.
Alex Williams (W, 4-3) earned his first win of the season as a starting pitcher, scattering five hits over 5.0 innings while throwing a season-high 91 pitches. Luarbert Arias, Evan Fitterer and Josh Ekness (S, 10) worked the final four innings to give the Blue Wahoos their sixth shutout win of the season.
Ryan Ignoffo gave Pensacola a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning, doubling home Kemp Alderman from first base on a liner to right-center. It marked the fifth extra-base hit in five games for the hot-hitting catcher, who was removed from the game with an apparent injury in the third inning.
Mark Coley II stayed hot as well, lacing a two-run homer off the left field scoreboard for a 3-0 Blue Wahoos lead in the second inning. Coley, who hadn’t homered since early April before going deep last Friday and Saturday, later added a single in a 2-for-4 night.
The Blue Wahoos didn’t manufacture any offense after their early outburst, as Clingstones starter Landon Harper (L, 3-7) settled in to complete 5.0 innings of three-run ball. Three Columbus relievers worked 4.0 perfect innings of relief, but the Pensacola bullpen was just as effective to seal the 3-0 final.
Third baseman Gage Miller, added to the roster from High-A Beloit earlier in the day, went 1-for-4 with a run scored in his Double-A debut for the Blue Wahoos.
With the win, the Blue Wahoos maintained their 2.5-game lead over the second-place Montgomery Biscuits, who won their game 5-2 over Knoxville. There are 24 games remaining in the regular season as the Blue Wahoos aim to secure their eighth playoff berth in 10 seasons.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Clingstones on Wednesday night.
Train Collides With ECUA Truck At Crossing In Molino (With Gallery)
August 19, 2025
One person was injured when a CSX locomotive collided with an ECUA sanitation truck Tuesday morning in Molino.
The crash happened just before 10 a.m. at a private crossing about a half mile beyond the paved south end of Fairground Road.
One person in the ECUA truck was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital with minor injuries. The CSX engineer on the single locomotive was not injured.
ECUA said the driver was a 12-year employee that sustained a laceration to his foot.
The windshield from the ECUA truck was still hanging on the locomotive when it came to a stop a short distance away. It did not derail, and there was no obvious damage to the tracks.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The private crossing is marked by a stop sign and a small railroad crossing sign that advises to look both directions. There are no warning lights or crossing arms.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour (ground) and Sean Kahalley (drone), click to enlarge.
Brass Knuckles Land Cantonment Convicted Felon In Jail
August 19, 2025
Brass knuckles sent a convicted felon from Cantonment to jail following a traffic stop in Pensacola.
The Pensacola Police Department stopped his orange Dodge Challenger in the area of I Street and Intendencia Street due to a records check showing the registered owner had an expired license.
The driver, 32-year-old Leo Valentino Benjamin, Jr., told officers that he knew his license was suspended due to insurance issues. A PPD K-9 alerted on the vehicle, and a probable cause search located a pair of full-size brass knuckles in the empty center console, according to an arrest report, and burnt foil with residue on the front passenger side.
Officers determined Benjamin had previous felony convictions for drug possession and obstruction of justice.
According to PPD, he told officers that he had obtained the brass knuckles earlier in the day for self-defense purposes because he was concerned about getting ambushed by someone.
He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $6,000 bond.
‘Never Attempted To Stop’ — Report Details Habitual Offender’s Crash Into State Trooper
August 19, 2025
Witnesses said a habitual traffic offender never attempted to stop before he crashed into a Florida Highway Patrol trooper Sunday morning on Highway 29.
Deondrez Dequan White, 36, was charged with driving while license suspended as a habitual offender and booked into the Escambia County Jail after he was released from the hospital.
FHP said White rear-ended a 27-year-old male trooper who was investigating a previous crash on Highway 29 just south of West Roberts Road.
“Both witnesses advised the black SUV (driven by White) was traveling in the inside southbound lane and never attempted to stop,” states the FHP report obtained Monday by NorthEscambia.com.
At 6:21 a.m. Sunday, the trooper stated on the radio that he was involved in a vehicle crash. A second responding trooper arrived to find the first trooper’s patrol car facing south in the median of Highway 29 with crash debris in the inside lane. There were skid marks leading from the inside lane where the trooper’s car was parked in the inside lane with emergency lights activated.
White was still sitting in the driver’s seat of his SUV and requested to be transported to Sacred Heart Hospital. The trooper was transported to an area hospital for injuries “to his head, neck, back, and hands/arms,” the report states.
White was arrested after being medically cleared by the hospital and booked into the Escambia County Jail. He was released from jail about 5 p.m. Monday on a $500 bond. He is set to be arraigned on September 12.
According to the FHP report, White’s license had been suspended multiple times, since 2011, for failure to pay financial obligations and was revoked for five years in 2018. Court records show he was convicted of no valid driver’s license twice in 2013, driving with a suspended license in November 2014, driving with a suspended license in January 2017, driving with a suspended license in March 2017, knowingly driving with a suspended license in November 2019, and knowingly driving with a suspended license and leaving the scene of an accident for a December 2023 crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
