Escambia Ham Radio Operators Practice Emergency Communications During Annual Field Day
June 28, 2026
Local amateur radio operators gathered on Saturday at the Escambia County Emergency Operations Center on W Street to participate in the annual ARRL Field Day, an event highlighting emergency preparedness and public service.
The event, which serves as the largest annual amateur radio operating event in North America, moved to the Emergency Operations Center this year after previously being held at Ashton Brosnaham Park. Local hobbyists set up temporary stations to practice portable communication techniques and demonstrate the enduring capability of amateur radio when traditional power grids, internet access, and cellular networks fail.
“We are out here doing the 2026 Field Day,” said Paul Stefon, K7PCS, president of the Five Flags Amateur Radio Association. “Groups all over the country practice emergency communications and get ready for storm season and catastrophes. And we’re here to introduce ham radio to the public and push for the community to know that there is ham radio available when the system or grid goes down.”
Stefon discovered ham radio after Hurricane Ivan.
“After Ivan, I couldn’t talk to anybody, and that scared me to death,” he said. “So I went and took a class, and now I know how to get ahold of somebody when catastrophe hits.”
The ham operators have an Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) room that is actually inside the Escambia County Emergency Operations Center (EOC), creating a bridge during a disaster to the outside world. They operate three stations—for long distance and local communications, along with a digital station that can be used for things like email or even securely and privately sending a prescription from a doctor inside the EOC.
After Hurricane Ivan, amateur radio operators were the only ones communicating in Escambia County, according to the group.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Throughout Saturday, operators demonstrated voice, digital, and various other communication methods to connect with participants locally, nationally, and internationally. The open-house style gathering allowed members of the public to visit without a license, explore the equipment firsthand, and learn how amateur radio supports disaster relief, weather tracking, and community readiness. The entire event was operated only on generator and backup power to simulate an actual emergency.
The Field Day event continues until noon on Sunday at the Escambia County EOC, 6575 North W Street.
The 2026 exercise brought together a coalition of local organizations focused on emergency readiness, including the Five Flags Amateur Radio Association, Escambia County Emergency Management, Escambia County ARES, BRACE, and Escambia Search and Rescue. The weekend event followed a formal presentation on June 17, 2026, where the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners issued an official proclamation recognizing the vital public service provided by local radio operators.
The Five Flags Amateur Radio Association will offer amateur radio classes to prepare people for the FCC license test beginning in September at Pensacola State College. The class is just $20 and will meet on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6 until 8:30 p.m. from September 14 until November 19. To register, click here. Or for more information, email Gene Bannon, KB4HAH, at kb4ahah@bellsouth.net.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Local Students Receive Construction Career Days Scholarships
June 28, 2026
The Escambia County School Board recently honored students who received 2026 Northwest Florida Construction Career Days scholarships.
The high school juniors and seniors participated in the event last February alongside students from every high school in Escambia County.
Eleven students have been awarded $2,000 each, and 28 students will receive $500 each, totaling $36,000:
$2,000 Recipients
- Addison Giger — Northview
- Alexandra Bentley — Tate
- Caleb Levins — Northview
- Caleb Thomas — Tate
- Easten Odom — Northview
- Ethan Travis — Tate
- Ezekiel Farley — West Florida
- Gabrielle Osten — Escambia
- Jessie Joyner — Northview
- Jonas Houston — Northview
- Kaiden Hall — Northview
$500 Recipients
- Brielle Garcia — Northview
- Caleb Hurd — Tate
- Cooper Hall-Bridges — Pensacola
- Daniel Romero — Tate
- Decatur Evil-Hunter — West Florida
- Emma Bowman — Northview
- Emma Holder — Northview
- Estela Peralta — Northview
- Grayson Walker — Tate
- Ian Stinnett — Tate
- Isaac Gomez — Tate
- Jack Boutwell — Northview
- Jackson Schrock — Tate
- Jackson Simmons — Northview
- Jaeden Vuong — West Florida
- James Connors — Northview
- Jaxson Stella — Tate
- Kayden Samelson — Northview
- Keith ONeill — Tate
- Lily Driver — West Florida
- Lucas Jones — Tate
- Lucas Mota — West Florida
- Maurice Dixon — Northview
- Micah Deburkarte — Escambia
- Michael Brazwell — Northview
- Tripp Daughtry — Tate
- Tyson Tang — Washington
- Vincent Fox — West Florida
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
One-Year-Old Uninjured In Saturday Rollover On I-10
June 28, 2026
One person was injured when a pickup truck rolled over on I-10 just inside Escambia County on Saturday afternoon.
A 20-year-old woman from Texas sustained minor injuries, while her one-year-old passenger was uninjured; both were properly restrained, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The crash happened just before 3 p.m. at mile marker 3 — three miles from the Baldwin County, Alabama line. Troopers said the woman was traveling westbound on I-10. As her Ford F150 approached stopped traffic, she swerved, lost control and overturned in the median.
The driver refused transport to the hospital.
Traffic Alert: This Week’s List Of Construction Slow Down Spots
June 28, 2026
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads and projects in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
In preparation for the Independence Day holiday, there will be no lane closures on major state roads from 12 a.m. Thursday, July 2 to 11:59 p.m. Monday, July 6.
Escambia County:
- Interstate 10 (I-10) Resurfacing from east of U.S. 29 to east of Davis Highway (State Road (S.R.) 291) – Drivers on I-10 may encounter intermittent lane closures, traffic shifts and periodic ramp closures, between mile markers 11 and 14, Sunday, June 28 through Thursday, July 2, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for paving operations and roadway construction.
- S.R. 292 (Gulf Beach Highway) from east of Bauer Road (County Road 293) to Manchester Street – Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on S.R. 292, from east of Bauer Road to Manchester Street, Sunday, June 28 through Wednesday, July 1, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., for construction activities. Additionally, a new traffic configuration has been implemented on S.R. 292 between Mills Avenue and just east of Patton Drive, with travel lanes shifted to the outside of the roadway to provide space to construct a median traffic separator. Channelizing devices are in place to delineate the work zone. The speed limit has been reduced to 35 mph through the work zone.
- Business U.S. 98 (Garden Street) Construction from Pace Boulevard to the Interstate 110 (I-110) ramp – The week of Sunday, June 28, drivers may encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions:
- Garden Street, between Pace Boulevard and North Donelson Street, is reduced to two travel lanes (one in each direction) as crews perform construction activities on the north side of the street. This temporary traffic configuration will be in place through late 2026.
- Temporary side street closures north of Garden Street for stormwater drainage system reconstruction. This week, drivers may encounter a closure with detour at F Street. Signage will be in place to direct drivers through the work zone.
- On-street parking is closed on Garden Street, between A Street and L Street.
- On-street parking is closed on Garden Street, between A Street and L Street.
- I-110 Resurfacing from I-10 to U.S. 98 – Drivers on I-110 may encounter intermittent lane closures, traffic shifts and periodic ramp closures, between I-10 and U.S. 98, Sunday, June 28 through Thursday, July 2, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., for paving operations and roadway construction.
- I-10 Resurfacing from the Perdido River Bridge to west of U.S. 29 – I-10 drivers may encounter intermittent and alternating lane closures between the Perdido River Bridge and west of the U.S. 29 interchange (Exit 10), Sunday June 28 through Wednesday, July 1, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., for construction activities.
- I-10 at Nine Mile Road Interchange (Exit 5) Construction – Drivers will encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions, Sunday, June 28 through Wednesday, July 1, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.:
- Intermittent lane closures on I-10 westbound near the Nine Mile Road interchange (Exit 5).
- Nine Mile Road will be reduced to one travel lane in each direction between the I-10 ramps. Law enforcement will be on site, and directional signage will be in place to guide drivers through the work zone.
- Temporary reconfiguration of the I-10 westbound ramps, which will remain in place through mid-2026.
- I-10 at U.S. 29 Interchange (Exit 10) Construction – Drivers may encounter the following lane closures on Sunday, June 28 through Thursday, July 2, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.:
- Intermittent inside lane closures on the I-10 westbound off-ramp to access U.S. 29 southbound (Exit 10). The outside lane will remain open.
- Intermittent lane closures on U.S. 29, between Diamond Dairy Road and Broad Street.
Additionally, drivers are reminded of the following ongoing construction-related traffic impacts:
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- Intermittent lane closures on North Palafox Street between Whitehead Drive and Hope Drive. Flaggers will be present to direct traffic through the work zone.
- I-10 is reduced to two travel lanes in each direction between U.S. 29 and I-110.
- I-10 travel lanes are shifted away from the median area of the roadway, near the U.S. 29 interchange.
- The U.S. 29 southbound access to the I-10 eastbound on-ramp has been reduced.
- The U.S. 29 northbound ramp to I-10 eastbound is closed. U.S. 29 northbound drivers are being detoured to make a U-turn at Broad Street onto U.S. 29 southbound to access I-10 eastbound.
- S.R. 97 (Atmore Highway) Resurfacing from U.S. 29 to the Alabama State Line – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Intermittent lane and shoulder closures are to be expected throughout the project limits on Monday, June 29 through Thursday, July 2, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for median improvements.
- Lane closures are to be expected at S.R. 95 and S.R. 97 on Monday, June 29 through Thursday, July 2, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for median improvements.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Median and turn lane closures from Bayshore Road to Tiger Lake Drive.
- Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between Bayshore Road and Tiger Lake Drive, Sunday, June 28 through Thursday, July 2, from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for paving operations.
- U.S. 90 Resurfacing, from Escambia River Bridge to east of Woodbine Road – Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on U.S. 90, from Escambia River Bridge to Woodbine Road, Sunday, June 28 through Thursday, July 2, between 7 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., for guardrail installation. Additionally, the speed limit has been reduced to 45 mph through the work zone.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Blue Wahoos Overcome Six Run Deficit For Second Straight Comeback Win
June 28, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos have garnered a flair for the dramatics. After an incredible comeback victory on Friday night, Pensacola immediately came out with a sequel on Saturday with a 12-9 win over the Chattanooga Lookouts to improve to 39-35.
Similar to Friday, the Lookouts offense started off hot. After Ryan Ignoffo got the Wahoos on the board with an RBI single in the top of the first, Chattanooga offense answered immediately with a two-run jack off the bat of Ruben Ibarra, who has become public enemy number one to the Wahoos in 2026. His first inning homer gave him 8 against the Blue Wahoos in 2026 alone.
The bottom of the 3rd inning saw a bit of history. Blue Wahoos veteran Luis Palacios notched his only two strikeouts of the game in the 3rd inning, officially making him the all time leader in strikeouts in Blue Wahoos franchise history with 280 Ks. He passed former Wahoo Evan Fitterer, who formerly stood at the top with 279 Ks.
With an early 2-1 lead, the Lookouts kept their foot on the gas. They put up two more runs in the 4th with another two-run tater, this time coming from Cam Collier, which made it a 4-1 game. Pensacola took back one of those runs in the top of the 5th, thanks to an RBI double from the scorching hot Cam Cannarella, but the momentum would come to a screeching halt when Cam Collier belted his second homer of the game, this time a grand slam, to give the Lookouts a commanding 8-2 lead in the 5th.
But the tides began to shift in the 6th inning. With two outs and two on, Brendan Jones swatted a three-run big fly into right field, cutting the deficit to just three. Just an inning later, Cam Cannarella continued his torrid stretch with a mammoth two-run blast to right, making the score 8-7, just a one-run game.
The Lookouts would allow themselves some breathing room with an insurance run in the bottom of the 7th on a run-scoring groundout from Cam Collier. The 9-7 score would hold until the 9th inning when the Wahoos bats started cooking.
Jay Beshears led things off with his 7th homer of the year to make it a 9-8 game. Emaarion Boyd must have been taking notes in the on-deck circle because he followed Beshears’ blast with a solo bomb of his own to make it a 9-9 tie on back-to-back jacks. Two batters later, Cristian Hernández singled and then scored on a Juan Matheus RBI double to give Pensacola their first lead of the night at 10-9. Fenwick Trimble then got in on the action with a run-scoring knock which prompted Lookouts manager Jose Moreno to make a pitching change.
The Blue Wahoos weren’t done yet though, because Trimble proceeded to steal second and then Ryan Ignoffo ripped a double into center to score him and give his team an astounding 12-9 lead.
Colby Martin (S, 4) locked down the save with three groundball outs to secure Pensacola’s second consecutive come from behind victory when trailing by at least 6 runs. Gabe Bierman (W, 1-1) got the win while Johnathan Lavallee (L, 3-3, BS, 1) was on the hook for the loss.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Lookouts on Sunday night.
written by Charlie Hobert
2019 Alabama Prison Escapee Now Facing Florida Charges For Walnut Hill Machete Carjacking
June 27, 2026
A man who escaped an Alabama prison facility and allegedly staged a local carjacking in 2019 has been extradited to Escambia County, Florida.
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Travis Wyatt Dawson was served with outstanding warrants and extradited last week for felony carjacking with a weapon and misdemeanor battery. He remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $102,500.
The charges stem from a July 14, 2019, incident on Miller Road in Walnut Hill. Dawson, who had escaped from a Loxley, Alabama, work release center four days prior, allegedly grabbed a victim from behind, brandished a machete, and stole a 2016 Dodge Caravan. As Dawson fled the scene, a witness jumped into the back of the minivan to try to stop him. The vehicle was later found abandoned after running out of gas at Interstate 65 and Government Street in Mobile.
Dawson eluded capture until May 2020, when he was apprehended in Louisiana.
At the time of his escape, Dawson was serving a 20-year sentence for a 2013 conviction for possession of a controlled substance in Escambia County, Alabama.
Pictured top: Officers from the Alabama Department of Corrections speak to an Escambia County (FL) deputy and a citizen a roadblock on Miller Road in Florida on July 12, 2019. Dawson allegedly carjacked a minivan just a few yards from this location on July 14, 2019. Pictured below: An Escambia County (FL) Road Prison K-9 team searches near a Rockaway Creek Road bridge that spans the Alabama-Florida state line. Pictured bottom: An Escambia County (FL) deputy helps maintain a perimeter around a neighborhood along Rockaway Creek Road at Grubbs Street in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Man Charged With Sexual Assault of Young Girl
June 27, 2026
A 31-year-old Escambia County man has been charged with sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl.
Jeramy Kaylen Stewart was charged with sexual assault of a victim 12 or under and molestation of a victim age 12 or younger.
The incident occurred when the girl was between the ages of 5 and 6 between January 2023 and December 2024.
In at least one incident, the girl pleaded with Stewart against doing what he wanted her to do, but he forced himself on her, the arrest report states.
Escambia County Veterans Services Office To Hold Outreach In Molino
June 27, 2026
The Escambia County Veterans Services Office will hold an outreach event in Molino.
The event will take place Thursday, July 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Molino Community Center, located at 6450 Highway 95A.
Veterans Services Office staff members will be available to help with topics including reviewing VA benefits, filing a VA claim, and re-evaluating VA disability. Additional vendors include:
- Escambia County Property Appraiser
- Council on Aging of West Florida
- Legal Services of North Florida
- Northwest Florida Area Agency on Aging
- Pensacola Vet Center
- United Way of West Florida
Assistance is provided on a first-come, first-served basis at no charge. No appointment is required.
Escambia Man Indicted On Federal Gun Charges
June 27, 2026
An Escambia County man has been indicted on federal drug charges.
James Christopher Bradford, 34, was charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and one count of distribution of Ketamine and MDMA.
If convicted, he faces up to 40 years in federal prison.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brooke Lindsay.
Blue Wahoos Score 12 Unanswered Runs In Wild Comeback Win
June 27, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos pulled off the comeback of the season on Friday night, winning 12-7 over the Chattanooga Lookouts after trailing 7-0.
Things started out about as poorly as possible for the Wahoos. With Orlando Ortiz-Mayr on the mound, the Lookouts put up three runs in the 2nd inning on a 2-run double from Julio Cerreras and an RBI single from Carlos Jorge. Then, two innings later, four more runs came around to score when the first 6 batters reached, officially ending Ortiz-Mayr’s day at 3.1 innings, with 9 hits, and 7 runs allowed.
Trailing 7-0 and with only one hit through the first five innings, Pensacola had some work to do. And they slowly started chipping away in the 6th. A solo homer from Aiva Arquette got the scoring started. Juan Matheus followed with a walk and Fenwick Trimble followed that with a double. With two men in scoring position, Brendan Jones slapped a double down the third baseline to cut the deficit to 4 and make it a 7-3 game.
When the top of the 7th inning rolled around, Pensacola kept their momentum rolling. Following a leadoff single from Ian Lewis Jr., Cam Cannarella ripped a two-run opposite field homer, his 4th of the year. With the score now 7-5, Juan Matheus singled with two down to bring Fenwick Trimble to the plate representing the tying run. And Fenwick took full advantage, sending his 9th home run of the year over the left field wall and tying the game up at 7-7.
The Wahoos bullpen, which consisted of Holt Jones, Livan Reinoso, and Jack Sellinger (W, 1-2) would go on to pitch the next 6.2 innings scoreless and hitless after the 4th to send the game to extras.
Emaarion Boyd pinch-ran for Connor Caskenette to begin the 10th. Following an Ian Lewis Jr. sacrifice bunt that moved Boyd to third, Jay Beshears sent a high chopper over the first baseman to give Pensacola their first lead of the night at 8-7. But that was just the beginning. Jay Beshears stole second to get into scoring position, just in time for Aiva Arquette to bloop a single into center to score Beshears and make the lead 9-7.
Juan Matheus then drew a walk to put two men on with two outs for Fenwick Trimble. And Trimble pounced. Fenwick crushed a ball well over the left field fence for a three-run dinger, his second homer of the game, and, after once trailing 7-0, gave the Wahoos a 12-7 lead. Jack Sellinger would set the Lookouts down in order to complete the comeback and send Pensacola to victory.
Taylor Floyd (L, 2-2) was charged with the loss. The Blue Wahoos improved to 38-35 while the Lookouts fell to 39-34.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Lookouts on Saturday night.
written by Charlie Hobert