Fire Caused by Discarded Smoking Materials Destroys Pine Forest Road Apartment
August 13, 2025
Escambia County Fire Rescue has determined the cause of a Monday afternoon apartment fire on Pine Forest Road,
The fire was reported in a single-story quad-plex in the 3300 block of Pine Forest Road, near Amanda Lane, at about 11:30 a.m. Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke from one apartment and fire visible from one of the apartment windows. The fire was brought under control in about 15 minutes.
The ECFR investigation determined the fire originated from discarded smoking materials.
The affected apartment was deemed a total loss. One nearby unit experienced minor water damage while the other two units were able to be reoccupied.
There were no injuries reported, and one dog was safely rescued.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
TSA Precheck Enrollment This Week At Pensacola Airport
August 13, 2025
TSA PreCheck enrollment is available this week at the Pensacola International Airport.
Travelers will be able to enroll or renew their membership at 2430 Airport Blvd., Suite 225 from 9 a.m. until noon and 1-4 p.m. daily through Friday, August 15. The TSA PreCheck Application Program is open to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and lawful permanent residents.
The enrollment process is quick, convenient, and even faster when the application is completed online beforehand. During the in-person appointment, applicants are required to provide identity and citizenship documents, fingerprints and a photo will be captured, and then pay for the application fee. Provider IDEMIA offers TSA PreCheck enrollment for $76.75 and if approved, travelers get a five-year membership with the program.
Following the in-person enrollment appointment, most applicants receive their Known Traveler Number (KTN) in about three to five days. The KTN number must be added to flight reservations to enjoy TSA PreCheck benefits.
TSA PreCheck was created in October 2011 as a way to provide low-risk travelers with a smoother experience through airport security. It’s a great option for travelers looking to save time. Enrolled members have access to TSA PreCheck dedicated screening lanes at over 200 participating U.S. airports nationwide, and 99% of members wait 10 minutes or less in a screening lane. TSA PreCheck passengers travel with ease and keep their shoes, belts and light jackets on and keep laptops, 3-1-1 liquids and food items in their bags.
“We’re proud to continue our partnership with TSA and IDEMIA to bring convenient, on-site TSA PreCheck enrollment opportunities to our passengers,” said Matt Coughlin, Airport Executive Director at Pensacola International Airport. “Programs like this help us enhance the travel experience and make flying out of PNS even easier.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Habitual Offender Arrested On Drug Charges After Foot Chase
August 13, 2025
A Century man was arrested this week after an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy recognized him as a habitual traffic offender and a brief foot chase ensued.
The suspect, Christopher Angelo Phifer, 53, was charged two felony counts of possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine and crack cocaine), felony driving while being a habitual traffic offender, and misdemeanor resisting arrest without violence. A records check confirmed his habitual traffic offender status from April 17, 2023.
According to an arrest report, an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy observed a white Land Rover near the intersection of West Pond Street and Century Boulevard. The deputy recognized the driver, Phifer, from previous arrests and knew him to be a habitual traffic offender with a history of fleeing from law enforcement.
The deputy initiated a traffic stop, at which point Phifer allegedly exited the vehicle and fled on foot. The deputy gave verbal commands, calling Phifer by name, and after a short chase, was able to detain him without further incident.
A subsequent search of the vehicle, prompted by the strong odor of burnt marijuana, led to the discovery of illegal narcotics, the report states. A clear plastic baggie containing a green powder that field-tested positive for methamphetamine and pills believed to be Ecstasy was found in plain view on the center console. Next to it was a beige rock that field-tested positive for cocaine.
Phifer was booked into the Escambia County Jail with no bond. Court records show his bond was revoked in an outstanding case from January in which he was charged with knowingly driving with a suspended license for the third or subsequent time and resisting arrest for allegedly fleeing on foot from a traffic stop in Century.
Blue Wahoos Ambushed by Barons In Series-Opening Loss
August 13, 2025
written by Bill Vilona
The Birmingham Barons started Tuesday’s game with five consecutive hits. All of those batters scored.
It only got worse from there for the Blue Wahoos.
The Barons pounded out 21 hits, matching the most allowed in Blue Wahoos franchise history, as part of Birmingham’s 13-2 victory to begin a six-game series at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Blue Wahoos starter Alex Williams, who transitioned a month ago from reliever to starter on the Blue Wahoos pitching staff, had his toughest night in this role. After giving up five runs in the first inning, Williams exited after three innings trailing 7-0.
At that point, the Barons already had 10 hits. Williams’ first two outings at starter in July went very well with just one run allowed. But it has since gone the other way.
It was all part of a rough night for the Blue Wahoos, who sustained their sixth loss in the past seven games. The 13 runs were the most allowed this season.
The red-hot Barons (66-43 overall, 28-12 second half), who by far have the best overall record in the Southern League, are now 23-5 in a stretch that has catapulted them to an 8.5 game lead in the North Division second-half race.
As South Division leaders, the Blue Wahoos (56-52, 22-17) had their lead cut to two games over the Montgomery Biscuits, following the Biscuits’ rain-postponed game Tuesday in Chattanooga.
Williams’ night began with a leadoff infield single by William Bergolla, followed by a bunt single from Sam Antonacci. Those two combined for six hits, three walks and three RBI.
The next three batters made hard contact, including a two-run double by centerfielder Braden Montgomery, the Chicago White Sox No. 1 prospect and former first-round pick in 2024 by the Boston Red Sox.
Montgomery followed with another double to lead off the third inning as part of his best game since being elevated from High-A on July 29. He finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored.
It’s Montgomery’s third level reached this season, after the Red Sox traded him in December to the White Sox organization, along with three other prospects, in exchange for White Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet.
Williams was met by Blue Wahoos manager Nelson Prada as he reached the dugout after the third inning. Prada extended a handshake and offered encouragement, as Williams seeks to overcome three consecutive rough starts, all short stints.
The Barons tacked on six runs against the Blue Wahoos bullpen.
Jared Serna drove in the Blue Wahoos’ first run with a third-inning double. In that same inning, newly-acquired outfielder Matthew Etzel, who always hit well in Blue Wahoos Stadium when playing for the Biscuits, continued his success with a run-scoring triple.
Those were part of the Blue Wahoos’ seven hits in the game. Cody Morissette went 2-for-4 as the team’s only multiple-hit batter.
Six Arrested During Federal Immigration Enforcement Operation In Atmore Area
August 12, 2025
Six people were arrested in a federal immigration enforcement operation on Tuesday in the Atmore area.
One of those detained had prior arrests for homicide and kidnapping, according to FBI Mobile.
The FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) were joined by local law enforcement, including the Atmore Police Department in the operation.
“Removing violent offenders from our communities remains of the utmost priority,” FBI Mobile said in a statement.
“We remain committed to working with our partners to keep our community safe,” the Atmore Police Department said.
No further details have been released by authorities.
Photos courtesy FBI Mobile for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Homeowner And Victim Jailed After Early Morning Shooting In Molino
August 12, 2025
The homeowner and victim have been charged after a shooting early Tuesday morning in Molino.
First responders were called to the 6300 block of Jahaza Street for a shooting victim about 4:20 a.m., but the victim left the scene.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, a female and her male cousin traveled from Atmore to a home on Cedartown Road; she told deputies that she had been invited to the residence. The Sheriff’s Office said the woman became irate because another female was present at the residence, and the two females got into an argument.
“The homeowner broke it up,” Sgt. Melony Peterson said. “As the female and male who came from Atmore were attempting to leave, the homeowner got a gun and fired off a couple of rounds.” She said one round struck the vehicle, and another round hit the male in the back. The ECSO stopped the vehicle in the area of Gunter Custom Pools on Highway 29 just north of Archer Road. The male, in his 20s, was transported to an area hospital, suffering a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the back.
The homeowner, 45-year-old Edward Hamid Lewis, Sr. of Molino, was charged with felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
The female’s cousin provided deputies with a fake name, according to the ECSO, and he had multiple outstanding warrants. ECSO said 36-year old Aundray Reshard Butler of Mobile Highway in Pensacola was charged with giving a false name and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. Records show he had outstanding warrants for aggravated battery when offender knew or should have known the victim was pregnant, simple assault, burglary with assault or battery, and witness tampering. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Pictured: The scene of an early morning shooting in Molino. Photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
$1.8 Million Highway 4A Safety Improvement Project Approved
August 12, 2025
Escambia County has approved a $1.8 million roadway safety improvements project for Highway 4A from Byrneville to near Century.
The project will include widening existing 10-foot travel lanes to 11-foot-wide lanes with 1-2 foot shoulders.
“4A doesn’t have any shoulders,” area resident Mike Killam told the commission. “There’s a lot of school buses passing dump trucks up on 4A. If you do the math on there, there’s not a lot of distance between the two when they pass. One has got to get off the road, so it’s dangerous.”
“If you look at this road, it’s crumbling. It needs fixing. It’s just pothole, patches, patches. If it were a straight road, it would be better, but that got a lot of curves and it winds around,” he told the commissioner. “I’m here to plead with you to fix 4A.”
The planned roadway improvements include widening and overlaying the existing lanes. The project also includes the relocation of mailboxes, and the reinstallation of traffic signs to county specifications. The guardrails within the project limit will be upgraded to current Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) standards.
The project also includes minor drainage modifications to accommodate road widening, with work expected to begin in October.
The project limits are from Highway 4, at the traffic light near the Byrneville Community Center, and continuing for 3.5 miles, about a half-mile past Broomes Road.. The entire length of Highway 4A is about 6.7 miles to Highway 29 in Century.
The winning bidder for the project was C.W. Roberts Contracting at $1,807,973. The total project includes $807,973 transferred from Local Option Sales Tax Reserves.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Superintendent: New School Year Off To A Smooth Start With Exciting Things To Come
August 12, 2025
The new school year got off to a smooth start in Escambia County, according to School Superintendent Keith Leonard.
“We had, for the most part, a really good first day,” he said.
He said there were expected first-day delays with transportation especially at the elementary level.
“It took a little bit longer, and that’s because we are extra cautious picking up the students and then in the afternoon as we drop them off. So that leads to extended time prior to picking up high school students and then we go to middle school students, so it did take a little bit longer. That’s okay, because the first few days we’re just getting used to routines and procedures. I hope we will improve as we go throughout this first week, and it always has.”
Leonard started visits to schools in the county Monday morning at Bratt Elementary before working his way back south.
“On a positive note, for the seven or eight schools I was able to visit today, I saw excited students happy to be there in their school, whether it be their first day in kindergarten or, in particular when I was able to visit some of our high school students and those students that are seniors. It was their last year in school instead of their first day in school. All in all, we had a good first day.”
The School Year Outlook
“We are looking for our kids to have a good academic experience and then always try to make certain that we’re providing a well-rounded education through extracurricular activities and those electives that we offer at each of our schools,” Leonard said. “We just want to provide opportunities to our students and our families that are beneficial to all our students.”
“That’s really what I get excited about, and we’ll have all types of activities starting up pretty soon whether it be high school football, marching band, volleyball, and all those fall sports we are looking forward to.”
New Statewide Phone Policies
Under a new state law, a total ban has been implemented statewide on cell phone use for elementary and middle school students during school hours, and high school students can only use their phones outside instructional time unless expressly allowed by a teacher.
The superintendent said he did not know of any problems with the new cell phone law on Monday in the district.
“It seemed to be okay. Today, I didn’t get any phone calls related to the new cell phone law,” Leonard said. “The first day went pretty good.”
NorthEscambia.com/courtesy photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Felon Sentenced To Federal Prison For Firearm Possession
August 12, 2025
An Escambia County felony has been sentenced for firearm possession.
Ralphael Roy Caldwell, 35, was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison after previously being found guilty by a jury of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
Evidence admitted at trial established that during a traffic stop on September 10, 2024, Caldwell had a loaded pistol in his waistband that he admitted to officers was his. He had previously been convicted of the felony offenses of principal to attempted home invasion robbery with a firearm and shooting into a building.
Photo Gallery: First Day Of School In Escambia County
August 12, 2025
Monday was the first day of school in Escambia County.
As is an annual tradition, we asked parents to submit their North Escambia area back to school photos. We received hundreds of photos and have published as many as possible in the gallery linked below.
For a photo gallery of parent submitted photos, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
