No Arrest, Investigation Continues Into Shooting Last Week In Century
July 24, 2025
The investigation is continuing into a July 15 shooting that left a Century man with critical injuries.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said on Wednesday that there have been no new developments in the case, and they have not named any suspects.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the shooting happened at a home on Ashford Alley, just off Mayes Street and Jefferson Avenue.
The adult male victim told deputies that he was asleep when he heard someone open his door and was then shot twice — once in the arm and once in the eye.
He then walked about a quarter mile to a residence in the 6800 block of Jefferson Avenue, passed numerous homes, before getting someone to call 911 around 3:20 a.m., according to the ECSO. The victim was transported by Escambia County EMS to the Marie McMurray Park on Pond Street and then airlifted by LifeFlight helicopter to a Pensacola hospital as a “trauma alert”.
There was no one in the home on Ashford Alley when it was searched by deputies.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620, or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Woman Faces Federal Charges For A Fraudulent Tax Return Scheme
July 24, 2025
An Escambia County woman faces federal charges for a fraudulent tax return scheme.
Khristine Harper, 41, was indicted in federal court for 20 counts of aiding or assisting in preparation of false tax return and one count of identity theft.
If convicted, she faces up to 65 years’ imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Tate Cheerleaders Hold ‘Totally Awesome’ Lil Aggies Summer Cheer Camp (With Gallery)
July 24, 2025
New skills. Lots of fun. New friends. Unforgettable memories.
This week’s Lil Aggies Cheerleading Camp was huge. In fact, it was the largest ever with over 150 kids, according to Coach Morgan Norwood.
And, it was totally tubular. Like, totally with an 80s day, a surf theme day, and an awesome Aggies Spirit Day.
For a photo gallery from this year’s cheer camp, click here.
Now, Norwood said, the cheerleaders are getting ready for the next clinic on August 23. Registration will be $100, and the little cheerleaders will receive a t-shirt and have a chance to cheer at the home football game on August 29. (We’ll have the registration form here on NorthEscambia.com as soon as it’s available.)
For a photo gallery from this year’s cheer camp, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Communications Deputy Chief Graduates From FSU Leadership Program
July 24, 2025
Escambia County Emergency Communications Deputy Chief Mark Carter recently graduated from the Florida State University Certified Public Manager program.
The FSU Certified Public Manager program is a nationally-recognized leadership development program for public managers and supervisors. It features 31 days of classroom instruction, complemented by homework assignments and open-book exams. Typically, the program involves eight four-day courses, scheduled every two to three months, allowing most students to complete it within 18 to 24 months.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Serna’s Big Blast Sends Wahoos To 5-2 Win Over Smokies
July 24, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos won their third in a row on Wednesday night, defeating the Knoxville Smokies 5-2 on the strength of a Jared Serna three-run homer.
With two on and two out in the fifth inning, Serna turned around a 2-0 offering from Smokies starter Sam Armstrong (L, 2-7) and sent it into the left field bullpen to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 lead.
The blast followed a positive trend for the Blue Wahoos, who have now hit eight three-run homers since June 1 after hitting only one in the season’s first two months.
The Smokies jumped ahead 1-0 in the second inning, turning a Felix Stevens leadoff walk into the game’s first run on an RBI single from Ethan Hearn. Blue Wahoos starter Ike Buxton labored through 3.0 innings, walking five batters but allowing only one run on one hit before departing.
Serna’s homer made a winner out of Luis Palacios (W, 2-2), who turned in 3.1 innings of effective relief with only one unearned run allowed. It was the 22nd career win for Palacios in a Blue Wahoos uniform, the most in team history.
Palacios allowed a two-out RBI double to Corey Joyce in the bottom of the fifth, but right fielder Grant Richardson gunned a throw home to cut down B.J. Murray Jr. trying to score the tying run from first base. With the lead still intact, Palacios and Nigel Belgrave (S, 2) stranded Knoxville runners in scoring position in the next three innings before a Michael Snyder two-run single in the top of the ninth extended the Pensacola advantage to 5-2.
Belgrave got the final eight outs to lock down the Blue Wahoos win, finishing with a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth inning.
With a win and a Columbus Clingstones loss, the Blue Wahoos now lead the South Division by 3.5 games in the second half race.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Smokies on Thursday night.
File photo.
Man Accidently Shoots Himself Near Walnut Hill, ECSO Says
July 23, 2025
A man is recovering after accidentally shooting himself early Wednesday morning near Walnut Hill.
The man told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office he was walking through the woods on his property in the 5000 block of Sandy Hollow Road when his AK-47 accidentally discharged, resulting in a serious leg injury.
He sought treatment at Atmore Community Hospital shortly before 4 a.m. An update on his condition was not available.
File photo.
Century Council Temporarily Appoints Member That’s Already Won Election
July 23, 2025
The Century Town Council voted on Tuesday night to temporarily appoint a local citizen to an empty council seat, but her temporary status will be short-lived.
Lizbeth A. “Sparkie” Harrison was appointed to Seat 5 on the council immediately by resolution. In June, she was the only candidate to qualify for the open seat and was deemed elected.
According to a previous resolution approved by the council, Harrison should be sworn into office 10 days following the certification of the July 29 election date — somewhere around the second week of August.
Harrison, who has lived in Century and worked as a director of PSC Century Center for two years, is “driven by the desire to help others and enhance the quality of life for all who call Century home,” according to a letter she submitted to the town prior to the election. She holds a bachelor of science degree in human services from Tennessee Wesleyan University.
On May 6, Councilmember Sandra McMurray-Jackson resigned from Seat 5 for personal reasons.
Pictured: Lizbeth A. “Sparkie” Harrison (right) addresses the Century Town Council on Tuesday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Pleads Guilty To Trafficking Fentanyl, Meth, Cocaine, And Heroin
July 23, 2025
An Escambia County man pleaded guilty in federal court on multiple drug offenses.
Jermaine Zackery Lewis, 32, pleaded to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl; possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin; and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
In January and February 2025 Lewis was distributing fentanyl locally, according to court documents. Law enforcement intercepted a mailed parcel bound for Lewis that contained approximately four pounds of fentanyl pills. With this information, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Lewis’ residence in March 2025. Law enforcement seized two loaded firearms, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl. Wire receipts detailing money transfers to Mexico were also recovered. Lewis is a previously convicted felon.
Lewis faces up to life imprisonment when he is sentenced on October 16.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Pensacola Police Department, and the Florida Highway Patrol.
Escambia Area Unemployment Rate Increases By Half A Point
July 23, 2025
The Escambia County unemployment rate increased by half of a percentage point over the last month.
Escambia County and the Pensacola metro area education and health services sector added 1,200 jobs over the year in June 2025, FloridaCommerce announced. The Pensacola metro area added 500 jobs (+0.3%) in the private sector over the year in June 2025.
The Pensacola area labor force was down 1.0% (-2,461) over the year in June 2025. The Escambia County unemployment rate increased to 4.4% in June 2025, up from 3.9% in May and 3.9% a year ago, according to the latest release from the state.
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.7 percent in June 2025, unchanged from the May 2025 rate, and up 0.3 percentage point from a year ago. There were 415,000 jobless Floridians out of a labor force of 11,193,000. The U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in June.
Patronis Applauds House Passage Of Defense Bill
July 23, 2025
Florida Congressman Jimmy Patronis is celebrating passage of the U.S. Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2026 by the House of Representatives.
The act includes operation and maintenance funds building on the Congressman’s request for funding to restore the Blue Angels hangar at NAS Pensacola and a 3.8% increase in basic pay for military personnel.
“It is an honor to represent the men and women in America’s armed forces, and to have voted ‘yes’ to pass the Defense Appropriations Act and advance the America First agenda, which supports our troops and their families in Northwest Florida. We funded a well-deserved pay boost to our heroes stationed at Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field, NAS Pensacola, and NAS Whiting Field, and ended DEI programs to ensure our service members can focus on defending the country, instead of woke ideology,” Patronis said I also requested $12 million for a hangar at NAS Pensacola, which would help preserve Blue Angels fighter jets being housed there. While we have made some great strides in restoring the strength of our military under the leadership of President Trump and Speaker Johnson, there is much more to be done, and I look forward to working with congressional leadership to continue funding projects that will provide much needed improvements to our infrastructure in Northwest Florida.”
Other key elements of the legislation include $40.9 billion for DOD medical and healthcare programs, provides $1.15 billion for counter drug programs and codifies President Donald Trump’s executive actions to end DEI programming, which prohibits funding for sex-change surgeries, abortion-related travel, drag queen shows, and COVID vaccine and mask mandates.