Century Neighborhood Watch Organized, Sets Future Meetings
December 9, 2025
An organizational meeting was held Monday night for a new Century Neighborhood Watch, under the guidance of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The group elected Evelyn Deterville as president, Emma Fletcher as vice president and Deborah William and secretary.
About a dozen attendees learned how to keep a watchful eye on their community, protect themselves, and properly report crime to the ECSO from David Craig, community relations coordinator, and Deputy Howard Enderson.
Future meetings will be held at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of the month at the Soul Train Club at 150 East Pond Street. The next meeting will be held on January 13, and the public is invited to attend.
NorhtEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Council Reappoints Key Staff, Holds Off On New Police Chief After Derek Lowry Resignation
December 9, 2025
Flomaton’s police chief has resigned, and the appointment of a replacement has been delayed for at least a week.
Dereck Lowry resigned as police chief last Friday, Mayor Arthur Odom announced to the town council Monday night. He had served as chief since May 2024.
The council approved Odom’s recommendations to reappointed several municipal positions, including Town Clerk Kaci Boutwell, Superintendent of Public Works Shaun Moye, and Town Attorney Chuck Johns.
But the council on Monday night stopped short of promoting Flomaton Police Department Captain Justin Hetrick as police chief at the mayor’s recommendation. The council instead appointed Hetrick as interim chief and set a 5:30 p.m. special meeting on December 15 to interview him.
When Odom was sworn in as Flomaton mayor in early November, he deferred the municipal appointments until a November 10 meeting, and they were again deferred to December 8.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Elementary Names Students Of The Month
December 9, 2025
Byrneville Elementary School recently named its Students of the Month for November.
They are:
Kindergarten: Miracle Slade and Tucker Boutwell
1st Grade: AJ Sutton and Georgia Cofield
2nd Grade: Cali Cottrell and Shelby McKenna
3rd Grade: Arayah McCall and Paisley Miller
4th Grade: Jagger Scott and Estella Johnson
5th Grade: Emrey Fowler and William Maxwell
Art: Derri’ashia Grice
Music: Chaplin Grassia
PE: Jaden Cardwell
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
International Paper Awards $65,000 In Community Grants
December 9, 2025
International Paper’s Pensacola Mill recently awarded $65,000 in International Paper Foundation grants to nine local organizations for education, hunger, health and wellness, disaster relief, and environmental initiatives.
The largest grant of $15,000 was awarded to Sacred Heart Foundation to create a multi-sensory room at the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart. This space will provide therapeutic support for children with sensory processing challenges, neurological conditions, and anxiety, helping families across Northwest Florida.
Another major grant supports Jim Allen Elementary School’s Stoked about Science and Social Studies project, equipping classrooms with resources that inspire curiosity and strengthen STEM education for local students.
“We are proud to partner with organizations that share our vision for a stronger, healthier community,” said Whitney Fike, Regional Communications Manager at International Paper. “These grants allow us to amplify the impact of projects that matter most, whether it is creating a sensory-friendly space for children in need or providing innovative learning tools for local students. These initiatives represent the heart of what community investment should be: meaningful, lasting change.”
Grants were awarded to:
- Autism Pensacola – Families Navigating Autism
- Council on Aging of West Florida – Powering Our Future
- Covenant Care Foundation – Nonie’s Place
- Health and Hope Clinic – Access to Care
- Jim Allen Elementary – Stoked about Science and Social Studies
- Manna Food Bank – Healthy Kids Initiative
- Pensacola MESS Hall – Mess Hall Updates
- Sacred Heart Foundation – Sacred Space Sensory Room
- YMCA of Northwest Florida – Literacy Launch Kits
Grants were determined after a thorough review by local team members and the International Paper Foundation’s grants committee, with final approval by the foundation’s board of trustees.
Keiser Wins NAIA Soccer National Championship At Ashton Brosnaham Park
December 9, 2025
The NAIA Women’s Soccer Championship was held over the past week in North Escambia.
Escambia County’s Ashton Brosnaham Athletic Complex off 10 Mile Road hosted the tournament, except for last minute move of some matches to Gulf Shores due to weather,
The Keiser University Seahawks (West Palm Beach, FL) claimed their third championship title with a penalty kick, ending over 110 minutes of play with a combined 37 shots throughout the game. The Seahawks defeated Cumberlands (Kentucky) for the championship and the league’s Red Banner.
Keiser claimed its third red banner in program history with a 20-3-1 overall record. Cumberlands (Ky.) wrapped up their phenomenal season with an overall record of 17-5-3.
Last month, Ashton Brosnaham hosted the SEC Women’s Soccer Championship, which was won by Vanderbilt.
Lipscomb Elementary Names Students Of The Month
December 8, 2025
Lipscomb Elementary School recently named its Students of the Month for November. They are Naomi Truitt and Nyle Wright. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
A Christmas Miracle: Tate High Hosts Miracle League’s Annual Christmas Party (With Gallery)
December 8, 2025
Santa visited with Miracle League of Pensacola players during their annual Christmas party Friday night at Tate High School.
For the past eight years, Tate Beta Club, sponsored by Stacye Litton, has hosted the Christmas Party for the athletes and the families. Numerous other Tate High student organizations and volunteers came together to put on the party including Early Childhood Education, Diamond Girls, Tate Theatre, Chorus, Gatsby Girls and S2S,.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Miracle League players were able to visit with Santa and share their wish lists, enjoy a spaghetti dinner, and take part in numerous activities.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
New Subdivision Planned For Beulah Church Road
December 8, 2025
A new subdivision is being proposed for Beulah.
The 25-lot single family residential subdivision would be located on 9.9 acres on the south side of Beulah Church Road.
The application was filed by Hammond Engineering on behalf of developer Eric Patrick of B&W Utilities, Inc. in Cantonment. It states that there is one existing single-family residence on the property, which is located between Rebel Road and Beulah Road.
Florida Gas Prices Down A Dime Over The Last Week
December 8, 2025
Florida gas prices have steadily declined over the past two weeks. During that time, the state average dropped 19 cents per gallon, falling from $3.12 per gallon to $ 2.92 per gallon.
According to AAA <Sunday’s state average of $2.92 per gallon is 10 cents less than last week, three cents more than last month, and 13 cents less than this time last year.
In Escambia County, the average was $2.75 a gallon. Sunday night, a low of $2.52 was at a station on Chemstrand Road, and the North Escambia low was $2.56 at one station on Highway 29 in Cantonment.
“Drivers should expect gas prices to bounce back this week,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Over the past year, we’ve seen a consistent pattern: when prices fall for two straight weeks, they typically climb 10–20 cents shortly after. This is part of the normal price-cycling behavior, where retailers adjust prices to attract customers and stay competitive in the market. So far this year, Florida gas prices have bounced between $2.84 per gallon to $3.23.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Federal Prison For Escambia Man For Role In Drug Trafficking Operation From Texas
December 8, 2025
An Escambia County Man has been sentenced on federal charges for conspiracy to traffick drugs from Texas to Escambia County.
Charlie N. Steans, 58, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute large amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine.
Court documents reflect that Steans was caught at a Greyhound Bus Station in Houston, Texas, with approximately 10 kilograms of methamphetamine and one kilogram of cocaine hidden in his luggage in early 2023. He was able to bond out of a Texas state jail after being caught only to be arrested again in late-2024, this time on a Greyhound Bus in Mississippi heading toward Pensacola with nearly four kilograms of cocaine in his possession.
At that point, law enforcement from multiple jurisdictions connected Steans to being an interstate transporter of large amounts of drugs between Texas and Florida with the drugs destined for Pensacola. Steans was then taken into federal custody based on charges out of the Northern District of Florida.
“Our agents and law enforcement partners will continue to fight those trafficking poisons into our Florida communities,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “Whether by bus, tractor trailer, plane, or boat, we will find you and bring you to justice.”
The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Pensacola Police Department; the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office; the Florida Department of Law Enforcement; and the Florida Highway Patrol.