Immigration Enforcement Operation Arrests 200 In Escambia, Other Panhandle Counties
August 23, 2025
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday that a first-of-its kind law enforcement operation targeting illegal immigration, dubbed the Panhandle Immigration Enforcement Operation, resulted in the arret of nearly 200 people in Escambia and other Panhandle counties.
The operation led by the Florida Highway Patrol in coordination with federal partners at ICE, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Border Patrol, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is part of a comprehensive, multi-agency immigration enforcement detail targeting those living in the country illegally with criminal records, fugitives, and repeat immigration violators.
“This week, a first-of-its-kind immigration enforcement operation started in Florida’s Panhandle, led by the Florida Highway Patrol in coordination with federal partners,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. ”The Panhandle Immigration Enforcement Operation has apprehended hundreds of illegal aliens—including fugitives with criminal records and repeat unlawful border crossers. Florida continues to deliver on the mandate to secure our interior and protect our citizens from the threat of illegal immigration.”
- 45 FHP troopers and 20 federal personnel carrying out enforcement across Escambia, Santa Rosa, Walton, Okaloosa, Holmes, Bay, Washington, and Jackson counties.
- Nearly 200 people apprehended.
- 37 arrested who previously received final orders of removal and failed to appear in court.
- Eight apprehended who had been deported and reentered the United States—one of which had been deported four times. These individuals will be federally charged.
“The FHP Immigration Enforcement Unit has demonstrated unprecedented success in apprehending illegal aliens,” said Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Executive Director Dave Kerner. “Working hand in hand with our federal partners, we are creating an enforcement model that can truly impact the illegal immigration crisis.”
Florida state troopers said they encountered persons who have fled, resisted arrest, and physically assaulted officers—underscoring the heightened danger posed by criminal illegal aliens.
Century Reports Spill At Wastewater Plant, The Third In A Month
August 23, 2025
The Town of Century on Friday reported a spill at its wastewater treatment plant on Jefferson Avenue, according to a report filed with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
The town reported that a temporary effluent pump failed and spilled about 1,000 gallons of treated wastewater over a 30-minute period on Friday morning. None of the spill was recovered, but the area was cleaned up with the application of lime.
On August 4, the town reported a 7,000-gallon spill when a bypass pump malfunctioned over a 14-hour period. Additionally, the town reported a 5,000-gallon spill occurred on July 25 after effluent pumps at the facility had an electrical issue that caused the treated wastewater to spill for seven and a half hours. Both spills, according to the reports, were cleaned by applying lime.
High School Football Scoreboard
August 23, 2025
Here are high school football scores from across the North Escambia area.
FLORIDA
- Tate 21, Fort Walton 7 [Story, photos...]
- Destin 37, Northview 2
- Jay 40, Lighthouse Christian Academy 0
- West Florida at Escambia (delayed to Monday)
- Pensacola Catholic 42, Navarre 27
- Pine Forest 29, Pensacola High 0
- Mary G. Montgomery 34, Pace 21
- Milton 20 , Crestview 19 (OT)
- Gulf Breeze at South Walton
- Franklin County 31, Century 0
ALABAMA
- Flomaton 17, Clarke County 0 (Thursday night)
- Escambia Academy 40 Snook Christian Academy 12
- Wenonah 19, Escambia County (Amtore) 0
- T.R. Miller 35, Reeltown 2
Pictured: The Tate Aggies beat Fort Walton Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Drop 3-2 Nailbiter To Clingstones
August 23, 2025
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos lost their second game in a row on Friday night, falling 3-2 to the Columbus Clingstones in a low-scoring affair.
The Clingstones jumped ahead 1-0 in the second inning with a pair of singles from Adam Zebrowski and Drew Compton, followed by a sacrifice fly from Geraldo Quintero. That would be the only run allowed by Blue Wahoos starter Orlando Ortiz-Mayr, who worked 4.0 innings of three-hit, one-run ball.
After being stymied for four innings against Clingstones ace Ian Mejia (W, 11-2), the Blue Wahoos put together a rally in the fifth. Jared Serna laced a bases-loaded single to center field to tie the game 1-1, but both Kemp Alderman and Tony Bullard were retired to end the threat.
Columbus wasted no time in taking the lead back, stringing together three singles off Gabe Bierman (L, 0-2) in the bottom of the fifth. Jim Jarvis slapped an RBI single through the drawn-in Pensacola infield to score EJ Exposito and give the Clingstones a 2-1 edge.
Will Schomberg was greeted rudely in his Double-A debut for Pensacola, issuing a leadoff walk to Geraldo Quintero in the sixth before David Fletcher singled in an insurance run. Schomberg would bounce back, eventually completing 3.0 innings of relief without allowing another hit, but the third Clingstones run would prove to be the difference.
Fenwick Trimble got a run back for the Blue Wahoos with a seventh-inning solo homer, his second in as many days, but two late pickoffs squandered Pensacola’s opportunities to tie the game. Elison Joseph (S, 6) worked around a one-out single in the ninth inning to seal the 3-2 final.
With the loss, the Blue Wahoos saw their lead over the second-place Montgomery Biscuits shrink to 1.5 games in the second-half division race. There are 21 games remaining in the regular season.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Clingstones on Saturday night.
Escambia County Legislative Delegation Committee To Meet In Molino Next Month
August 22, 2025
The Escambia County Legislative Delegation will meet in Molino next month.
The delegation, comprised of Florida Rep. Michelle Salzman, Rep. Alex Andrade and Sen. Don Gaetz, will meet at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, September 9 at the Molino Community Center.
The meeting will provide the public the opportunity to bring forth their policy proposals and appropriation requests.
Elected officials, civic organizations, and local governments will also address their representatives in advance of the next Legislative Session.
Citizens that wish to address the Escambia County Legislative Delegation should complete this form.
West Roberts Road $4.6 Million Drainage, Widening Project Continues
August 22, 2025
An Escambia County $4.6 million West Roberts Road widening and drainage improvement project is continuing.
The widening and drainage improvements will be along a 1.75 mile stretch of West Roberts from the Highway 29 intersection west to the southern turn to Sutton Place. The project intent is to widen the roadway to two 12-foot-wide travel lanes with 5-foot-wide shoulders from Pine Forest Road to U.S. 29. The roadway from the southern turn to Pine Forest will be resurfaced and striped.
The $4,635,298.30 project being funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was awarded to contractor C.W. Roberts, Inc.
The county said access to adjacent properties will be maintained, although there may be short periods when a driveway or entrance is blocked.
Pictured top: West Roberts Road just west of Stallion Road on Thursday morning. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia County’s Newest Library Is Now Open
August 22, 2025
The ribbon was cut on Thursday for Escambia County’s newest library.
The Brownsville Library, the first in the community, is located at 3300 West DeSoto Street.
Escambia County purchased the former Masonic Lodge building to convert into a new 8,000-square-foot library and community space in the heart of Brownsville. The first floor features a public library and café space, with a large multi-use space on the second floor for senior activities, children’s programs, classes and events.
“I’m excited to finally open our first library in Brownsville, right in the heart of the community,” District 3 Commissioner Lumon May said. “This project has been a long time coming and I look forward to seeing all our residents take advantage of everything the library has to offer. Giving back to the community and investing in human capital have always been my pillars of public service, and cutting the ribbon on the Brownsville Library is a testament to that. I want to thank our staff who worked diligently to complete this project and who understand how vital this project is to not only Brownsville, but to Escambia County.”
In addition to offering a wide variety of literature for the community, the new Brownsville Library will provide high-speed internet access on library computers, along with free high-speed Wi-Fi for those who prefer to bring their own devices.
Escambia County was also awarded $350,000 in RESTORE Act funding for the design of a business incubator, which will be constructed near the new library to provide services and resources to business owners or anyone looking to start a new business. The business incubator will include office space and commercial space, offering networking opportunities, business mentorships, and more.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Aggies Dominate on the Road, Take Two Victories Against Navarre
August 22, 2025
After Thursday night on road at Navarre, the Tate Aggies volleyball teams brought home two of three wins.
Tate 3, Navarre 1
The Tate Aggies varsity volleyball team secured a decisive 3-1 road victory against the Navarre Raiders on Thursday.
After winning the first set 25-12, the Aggies dropped the second to the Raiders, 25-21. However, Tate regained control, winning a tough third set 25-15 and sealing the match with a 27-25 victory in the fourth.
Navarre 2, Tate 0 (JV)
In a hard-fought battle on Thursday, the Tate Aggies junior varsity team was defeated by the Navarre Raiders. The Aggies fought hard, but ultimately fell in two sets, with scores of 25-22 and 25-19.
Tate 2, Navarre 0 (Freshmen)
The Tate Aggies freshmen volleyball team secured a commanding victory on Thursday, defeating the Navarre Raiders in two decisive sets. The Aggies took the first set with a score of 25-17 and sealed the match with a strong 25-13 win in the second.
All three Aggie teams will be in action at home on Monday against Catholic, with the freshmen at 4:30, junior varsity at 5:30, and varsity at 6:30 p.m.
Clingstones Clip Wahoos In 6-1 Defeat
August 22, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell 6-1 to the Columbus Clingstones on Thursday night, managing only three early hits and missing out on opportunities to capitalize on mid-game opportunities.
Fenwick Trimble opened the scoring with a solo homer for the Blue Wahoos in the second inning, but it proved to be Pensacola’s only run. The Blue Wahoos were held hitless after Dub Gleed’s single three batters later.
Dax Fulton (L, 5-10) was scheduled to start, but the threat of rain pushed back the beginning of his appearance. Luis Palacios quickly worked 2.0 perfect innings before Fulton took the mound in the bottom of the third.
A two-out RBI infield single from Patrick Clohisy in the third inning tied the game 1-1, and Clohisy scored from third base on a wild pitch two batters later to give the Clingstones a 2-1 lead.
The Blue Wahoos loaded the bases with three walks in the top of the fifth inning against Columbus starter Drue Hackenberg, but Blane Abeyta (W, 2-1) stranded all three runners by coaxing a groundout from Mark Coley II to end the threat and preserve the 2-1 Clingstones advantage.
Fulton couldn’t work out of similar bases-loaded trouble in the bottom of the fifth, hitting Ethan Workinger with a pitch to force in a run before Adam Zebrowski laced a three-run double to left field to cap a four-run inning.
Abeyta and Ryan Bourassa combined for 4.1 hitless innings of relief for the Clingstones, securing the 6-1 final.
With the loss, the Blue Wahoos missed out on a chance to grow their 2.5-game lead over the second-place Montgomery Biscuits, who were trailing to the Knoxville Smokies at publication. There are 22 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 Friday night.
Boil Water Notice For Stallion Road Area, Including Colt, Pierce And Monica
August 21, 2025
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) has issued a precautionary boil water notice is in effect for a portion the Stallion Road area.
The boil water notice is in effect for :
- Stallion Road (addresses south of West. Roberts Road)
- Colt Road
- Pierce Road
- Monica Lane
This notice was issued after repairs were made to a broken 4-inch water main. Precautionary boil water notices are issued as a part of the standard protocol following any loss of water pressure, whether as a result of planned maintenance activities or unscheduled repairs.
Residents located in the specified area are advised to boil water for one minute at a rolling boil or to use eight drops of regular unscented household bleach per gallon of water, for water to be used for drinking or cooking purposes. Two independent bacteriological samples have been initiated and the advisory will be lifted as soon as possible. This process routinely takes 48 hours.
ECUA crews completed the repairs to the main and have flushed out the lines. Residents within the area and nearby are advised that there is a possibility of discolored water as a result of the utility work, and to flush their home’s plumbing by running their taps for a few minutes. If problems persist, customers are asked to contact ECUA Customer Service at (850) 476-0480 for assistance.
This story will be updated when the boil water notice is lifted.