Trial Set For Homicide Suspect That Claimed Self Defense In McDavid Main Street Drug Deal
August 17, 2025
During a hearing last week, a trial date was set for the suspect in a fatal shooting on Main Street in McDavid early this year. The suspect claims he shot the victim out of fear, but the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office says it was murder.
Investigators charged 25-year-old Antonio Marshone DeSoto with homicide for the shooting on Main Street, just east of Highway 29. During an August 13 hearing, Judge John Simon set a jury trial to begin November 17. He has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bond in the Escambia County Jail.
The victim, identified as Charles Black, was found lying in Main Street directly in front of the McDavid Post Office about 8:40 p.m. on February 18 suffering from two gunshot wounds. He was just a few feet away from the driver’s door of his Chevrolet SUV, which remained in the roadway.
After he was shot, Black was able to call 911 and tell dispatchers that DeSoto was the perpetrator, according to an arrest report. He was no longer able to speak to deputies after they arrived on scene. He was transported by Escambia County EMS to the nearby McDavid Fire Station before being airlifted by Medstar AirCare helicopter to a Pensacola hospital where he later died.
Deputies received a tip that DeSoto had fled following the shooting to a residence in the 100 block of Highway 164, just west of Highway 29 and Driver Road, about a half mile from the shooting scene. Deputies searched the home and found nothing. ECSO said the homeowner said she was allowing DeSoto to stay in a room inside the house, but she had not seen him since earlier that afternoon. She told deputies that she had been advised by her daughter that she heard gunshots from down the road, but she did not see DeSoto after that.
DeSoto was taken into custody outside the home.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Free Dog And Cat Adoptions From Escambia County Animal Welfare
August 17, 2025
The Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare will offer free adoptions for all dogs and cats one year or older through until Saturday, August 30.
A $15 licensing fee will be applied to all adoptions for Escambia County residents. To see a full list of adoptable pets in Escambia County, visit 24petconnect.com.
The adoption fee for pets younger than one year old will be $50 for puppies and $25 for kittens.
Century Town Council Member Sparkie Harrison To Be Sworn In On Tuesday
August 17, 2025
A new Century Town Council member will be sworn in Tuesday night.
In June, Sparkie Harrison was elected without opposition to fill a vacant seat on the town council. She was then temporarily appointed to Seat 5 on the council by resolution.
According to a previous resolution approved by the council, Harrison was to be sworn in at least 10 days following the certification of the July 29 election date (which was not necessary since she won without opposition).
Harrison will be sworn in by Judge Scott Ritchie during the regular council meeting on Tuesday, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Century Community Center (Ag Building) on West Highway 4 at Industrial Boulevard.
Pictured: Council member Sparkie Harrison listens to discussion during a recent Century Town Council meeting. NorthEscambi.com file photo.
New Gulf Coast Amtrak Service Launches Monday, But Not To Pensacola Or Atmore
August 17, 2025
A new twice-daily Gulf Coast Amtrak services launches Monday between Mobile and New Orleans with stops along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The new state-sponsored Amtrak Mardi Gras Service will offer convenient morning and evening departures from both cities.
“We encourage customers to get their tickets now to experience this new, comfortable, and scenic service, and have the first opportunity to travel by train on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in nearly 20 years,” said Amtrak President Roger Harris. “Guests can plan travel for football trips this fall, for November and December holiday travel – and even Mardi Gras Season next year.”
Adult coach fares end-to-end start at $15 each way, less for shorter distances. There are everyday discounts for children ages 2-12, students, seniors, veterans, military personnel and families, small groups, large groups, and others.
The new services do not extend to Atmore, Alabama’s official “Rail Welcome Center” for the state, or into Pensacola. The Port of Mobile’s concerns about increased train traffic, specifically related to Amtrak, led to an amendment in the Mobile City Council’s agreement with Amtrak that effectively blocks any expansion of the service beyond a Mobile-to-New Orleans route.
In January 2025, Escambia County (FL) Commissioners joined about 60 Florida commissioners in supporting expanded Amtrak passenger rail service from Mobile to Jacksonville, and the Florida expansion had the support of the Florida Association of Counties.
In early 2016, an Amtrak expansion train loaded with dignitaries traveled the route all the way through Atmore and Pensacola as early discussion for the service began.
Amtrak Mardi Gras Route
“We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Amtrak back to Mobile, and with tickets now officially on sale, this long-awaited service feels closer than ever,” said Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, who spoke at a Government Plaza news conference today where the start date, schedule and fares were first announced. “Mobilians have looked forward to the return of passenger rail for years, and the Amtrak Mardi Gras Service promises to deliver not just convenience, but connection.
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Amtrak Mardi Gras Service guests have same-day connections in both directions daily to the renowned Amtrak City of New Orleans trains between New Orleans and Chicago via Jackson, Miss., and Memphis, and next-day connections in New Orleans to famous Amtrak Crescent trains to and from New York via Atlanta, and legendary Amtrak Sunset Limited trains to and from Los Angeles via Tucson, San Antonio and Houston.
“The Southern Rail Commission is incredibly proud and excited that the Amtrak Mardi Gras Service is starting so soon after decades of work by all our partners who have played indispensable roles in today’s announcement,” said Southern Rail Commission (SRC) Chairman Knox Ross. “We know this service will have tremendous impact in boosting our local economies, connecting people with jobs and education opportunities, and bolstering our vibrant tourism industry in the coastal cities along the route and we encourage everyone to start buying tickets for your upcoming travel.”
Pictured top and below: An inaugural run of Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service pulls into Mobile on Saturday. Photos for NorthEscambia.com. Pictured inset above: The Atmore Train Station, NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Motorcyclist Injured In Deer Crash Near Deer Lake Road
August 17, 2025
A woman was injured Saturday evening near Walnut Hill when her motorcycle crashed into a deer just north of the aptly named Deer Lake Road.
Her Harley-Davidson struck a deer on Pine Forest Road about 1,300 feet north of Deer Lake Road around 6:10 p.m. The woman and the motorcycle slid nearly 100 yards.
The woman was transported by private vehicle to a local hospital before first responders arrived. The deer did not survive.
The Florida Highway Patrol investigated the crash, and the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded. The Atmore Fire Department was dispatched but canceled prior to their arrival.
NorthEscambia.com photos. Click to enlarge.
White Dominates Early, Rataczak Delivers Late In Walk-Off Wahoos Win
August 17, 2025
written by Willie Phaler
Eric Rataczak delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth, leading the Pensacola Blue Wahoos to a memorable 5-4 win over the Birmingham Barons Saturday night.
With a runner on third and one out, the Blue Wahoos left fielder poked a pop-up beyond the drawn-in infield against Tyler Davis (L, 0-7), allowing Mark Coley II to score the winning run.
“We were seeing him good, and I was just trying to go one pitch at a time,” Rataczak said. “I was just trying to pass the stick again, and sometimes you get a little bit of luck.”
Luck was indeed on the side of the Blue Wahoos in the 5-4 win, and it started with left-hander Thomas White on the mound.
White dazzled Saturday night in what turned out to be his best start at home with Pensacola, despite working with what he described as his “C-plus stuff.” Over 5.0 innings, MLB Pipeline’s top left-handed pitcher racked up nine strikeouts, while allowing only one run on four hits.
“I think [the Barons] are the best hitting team in Double-A, or at least in our league,” White said. “So to have my C-plus stuff and get a good outing from it is good for my ego and good for the brand.”
White’s ability to work through difficulty was a large part of Pensacola’s 58th victory.
“Honestly, not a lot was working for me tonight,” White said. “I didn’t really have my best stuff at any point. I made the big pitch when I needed to, and we took home the win, which is all that matters.”
The 20-year-old showed a strong ability to get out of tricky situations in the start, stranding runners on second and third in the fourth after striking out the side. White finished off his escape in the fourth inning with a backdoor sweeper to sit Michael Turner down looking to end a 10-pitch at-bat.
The Marlins’ No. 1 prospect topped the fourth inning by treating a sellout crowd of 5,038 to another Houdini act to end the top of the fifth. White stranded the bases loaded by punching out Braden Montgomery on a fastball and Caden Connor with a full count breaking ball.
“The breaking balls were what I was most confident with putting in the zone in that moment,” White said. “Sometimes you don’t have your best stuff, and that’s how it is. That’s what I trusted the most at that point, so I kept throwing it.”
Birmingham got the scoring started in the top of the second, as designated hitter Wilfred Veras hit a solo home run out to left-center against White. This was only the second homer given up by White this year between Beloit and Pensacola.
The Blue Wahoos took the lead in the bottom half of the second after a pair of RBI doubles down the left field line. Fenwick Trimble picked up his seventh double of the year to score Ryan Ignoffo, and later crossed the plate on a Coley double.
Coley extended the Pensacola lead in the bottom of the fifth, blasting a solo home run for his third of the season. The round-tripper was his second in two days after a seventh-inning home run that proved to be the game-winner Friday night.
Pensacola’s two-run lead didn’t last long, as Birmingham tied things up at 3 apiece against Evan Fitterer. Veras led off the inning with his second solo home run of the night, and Turner tied it with an RBI double to right field.
The Blue Wahoos found themselves in front again with a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the seventh after Michael Snyder singled to center against Dalton Roach to score Coley.
With two outs in the top of the ninth, Sam Antonacci tied it at 4-4 with an RBI double to right field against Wahoos closer Josh Ekness (W, 4-1).
Pensacola’s division lead has grown to 3.5 games, as the Montgomery Biscuits lost both games in a doubleheader against Chattanooga and the Columbus Clingstones fell 12-3 in Biloxi. The Blue Wahoos’ magic number to clinch a playoff spot now sits at 23 games.
The Blue Wahoos and Barons will square off in the final game of the series on Sunday with a 4:05 first pitch. Jacob Miller (3-4, 4.73 ERA) will make the start for Pensacola, while Birmingham sends out Tanner McDougal (3-1, 1.94 ERA) for the second time this series.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Birmingham Barons vs. Blue Wahoos
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
WHEN: Sunday, 4:05 p.m
Costco On Nine Mile Road Could Be Approved Next Week
August 16, 2025
Plans for a new Costco store on Nine Mile Road are sent for a final application review next week by the Escambia County Development Review Committee (DRC). Approval is the final review step before building permits can be issued.
The first conceptual plans were filed back in June 2024 for a Costco at 225 East Nine Mile Road, the site of a Planet Fitness that will be moving and previously a Kmart store.
Since that time, additional plans have been filed in response to DRC feedback. Without a development order, the project can’t move forward.
What’s new?
Updated site construction plans were filed in mid July, and on August 11 Costco filed landscaping plans with the county. Now, the entire project is set for potential approval next week.
When is the meeting?
The Escambia County Development Review Committee meets at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, August 20 at the Escambia County Central Complex Building at 3363 West Park Place to consider the final DRC application for Costco.
How long does it take to build a Costco?
The architectural firm MG2, which has partnered with Costco for 30 years on over 780 locations, says it takes under four months to build a new store.
“Costco Wholesale has set the bar by creating and maintaining the platinum standard in optimized rollouts: It takes just 110 days from the time construction begins to the moment doors open to their members” MG2 said. That means a new Pensacola Costco, if approved, could potentially open by the end of the year if construction beings soon.
What do the latest plans show?
The latest plans filed with Escambia County show the 172,580 square foot Costco retail store with a gas station and 830 parking spaces at 225 East Nine Mile Road, at the corner of East Nine Mile Road and Chemstrand Road. That’s the site of the current Planet Fitness and a former Kmart store. It’s several parcels totaling just under 22 acres.
The plans show the existing Dairy Queen, Sam’s Seafood Restaurant and Wells Fargo to remain, with a Costco gas station constructed between Sam’s Seafood and Wells Fargo in an area that is currently a parking area for the old shopping center. The current Planet Fitness building will be demolished to make room for the new Costco if it’s approved.
What happens to Planet Fitness?
Planet Fitness and the rest of the old shopping center will be demolished. As we previously reported on July 1, a new Planet Fitness is under construction at 312 East Nine Mile Road, next door to Aldi. It is in the remainder of a former Winn Dixie grocery store space that was converted into an Aldi with a smaller footprint, which opened in March.
What is currently the nearest Costco to Pensacola?
The nearest currently open Costco to Pensacola is in Mobile, Alabama.
How much is a Costco membership?
Membership is required for in-store shoppers at Costco. Members must be 16 or older to apply. The pharmacy is open to anyone, regardless of membership.
Costco offers two levels of membership for individuals or businesses:
Executive $130 annually
- Annual 2% Reward
- Costco Services Discounts
- Shop Online and in Warehouses
- Includes 2 Membership Cards
- 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
Gold Star $65 annually
- Shop Online and in Warehouses
- Includes 2 Membership Cards
- 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
Businesses can purchase either level to purchase items for resale or add additional people at $65 each.
Pictured top: The Costco in Montgomery, Alabama, earlier this year. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Moody, Patonis Urge Floridians Prepare As We Enter Peak Hurricane Season
August 16, 2025
U.S. Rep. Jimmy Patronis, Senator Ashley Moody and others officials stood together Friday in Defuniak Springs to use Floridians to prepare for early for potential tropical storm risks. Friday marked the start of peak hurricane season, and from August to October, 93% of hurricane landfalls on the U.S. Gulf and East coasts occur. They encouraged Floridians to not wait until a storm is imminent to make safety plans to protect their families or property.
“As the topics get busy and we draw closer to the height of hurricane season, the time is now to prepare for major storms. With record numbers of new Floridians who call our state home, be a good neighbor and check in on your those living next to you, especially new residents, to ensure they don’t need extra assistance in case of an evacuation,” Patronis said. “During an evacuation, don’t forget to make a plan for your pets as well – they’re part of the family, too. Our first responders work 24/7/365 to keep Floridians safe. Show your appreciation or them by ensuring they don’t have to come to your rescue because you chose not to heed local warnings and make the appropriate disaster preparations. Follow the tips below to ensure that you and your family are prepared for anything this hurricane season.”
“Floridians know well the destruction and devastation that a hurricane can inflict upon our communities,” Moody said. “Today is the first day of peak hurricane season, and I am urging everyone to make preparations now to ensure their families and homes are ready for a potential strike. When Florida is prepared, we can weather anything that comes our way.”
So far in the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, there have been five named storms, including Hurricane Erin. According to recent meteorology reports, Hurricane Erin is projected to make a turn away from Florida and have minimal impact, if any at all, on the Eastern U.S. Seaboard. NOAA projected an above-average active season this year, with 13 to 19 named storms, six to ten being hurricanes. NOAA also has predicted that there will be three to five major hurricanes.
Friday Nights More Like Friday Night Lightning As Preseason Games Are Canceled
August 16, 2025
The first Friday night lights of the season were more like Friday night lightning as the weather canceled preseason games at both Northview and Tate.
The games were first put on hold and spectators sent to their cars, but persistent lightning, some of it just a few hundred feet from the stadiums, led to eventual cancellations for safety reasons.
The high schools in Escambia County have WeatherStem systems on campus that provide real-time weather data, including the distance of lightning strikes. If the lightning is within 10 miles of a school, outdoor activities must end and everyone is moved to a safe location, such as inside a building or their vehicles. Everyone must be completely within the designated safe locations by the time the lightning is a six miles away from the school. The all clear is given 30 minutes after the last nearby lightning strike.
Northview and Ernest Ward Middle School were set to host Baker in a Kickoff Classic on Friday night. Now, the Chiefs will move forward into the regular season with a road trip to Destin at 7 p.m. on August 22. Their first home game back in Bratt is on August 29 against Opp.
Tate had planned to take on Pine Forest Friday night. Next Friday night, August 22, the Aggies will begin a three-game homestand against Fort Walton Beach, followed by Gulf Breeze and Pensacola. Their first road trip will be September 12 at Milton.
Pictured top: The WeatherStem station on above Northview High School’s football stadium. Pictured below: The weather station at Tate High School. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Battle Fire At Grain Elevator In Walnut Hill
August 16, 2025
Fire broke out at Tensley Grain in Walnut Hill on Friday afternoon.
The fire was contained to a tower dryer—essentially a metal silo that is external to the main grain storage silos. The gas-powered dryer is designed to remove moisture from the corn before storage.
The Walnut Hill, Century, McDavid, and Molino stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue units were dispatched to the fire along with a tower truck from the Atmore Fire Department shortly before 4 p.m., but most responding units were canceled prior to arrival.
Firefighters stood by and grain elevator employees worked to move the grain into a “pit” and remove any burning corn from the dryer. Firefighters were on scene for nearly four hours.
There were no injuries reported.
Tensley Grain is the former Escambia Grain on Arthur Brown Road, near the Walnut Hill Baptist Church.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
