Early Voting Begins Today, Continues For One Week
August 8, 2026
Early voting opens today for the August 18 primary election.
Early voting will be available from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. daily through August 15 at 10 locations in Escambia County:
- Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95A, Molino
- Escambia County Extension Services, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Billy G. Ward Century Courthouse, 7500 N Century Blvd, Century
- UWF Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola
- Bellview Library, 6425 Mobile Highway, Pensacola
- Asbury Place, 750 College Blvd, Pensacola
- Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor, Pensacola
- Main Library, 239 Spring Street, Pensacola
- Southwest Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola
- Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W De Soto Street, Pensacola
Polls will be open on election day, Tuesday, November 3 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Century Man Charged With DUI Property Damage In Active School Zone
August 8, 2026
A Century man is facing a criminal charge after allegedly causing a hit-and-run crash in a school zone earlier this year while driving under the influence.
According to a Florida Highway Patrol warrant affidavit, Brian Christopher Flowers was driving a 2009 Saturn Aura southbound on Mobile Highway on January 9, 2026, when he sideswiped a 2023 Lincoln Aviator in the school zone at Bellview Middle School. State troopers reported that after causing an estimated $8,000 in damage, Brian Christopher Flowers aggressively fled the scene.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy spotted the vehicle swerving shortly after and initiated a traffic stop. Deputies reported finding Brian Christopher Flowers sluggish, dazed, and oblivious to his surroundings, with droopy, red-tinted eyes and a bloody mouth.
Due to his condition, paramedics transported Brian Christopher Flowers to Baptist Hospital, where he consented to a voluntary blood draw. Florida Department of Law Enforcement toxicology results later revealed the presence of active, psychoactive THC in his system. Investigators confirmed Brian Christopher Flowers did not possess a valid medical marijuana card or prescription.
Following the investigation, law enforcement charged Brian Christopher Flowers with misdemeanor DUI causing property damage and cited him for failing to maintain a single lane. The arrest warrant was recently served, and Flowers are released on a $1,000 bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned next week.
Escambia Commission Approves Ordinance Banning Data Centers, Starting Process For Moratorium
August 7, 2026
The Escambia County Commission is making it abundantly clear — data centers are not welcome or allowed in the county.
On Thursday night, the commission approved an ordinance banning large-scale data centers in the unincorporated areas of Escambia County outside the City of Pensacola and the Town of Century. And, the commissioners started the legal process to also implement a moratorium.
The actions came on the heels of a resolution approved in late July that officially memorializes the county’s position that data center facilities are not permitted under the County’s Land Development Code and are not an appropriate form of development within the unincorporated area of Escambia County.
William Nelson, county attorney designate, said the ordinance was acceptable, but not required, to clearly ban data centers.
“In my opinion, the cleanest thing to do is to continue to use the Land Development Code because it prohibits these activities because they are not specifically included in the code,” he said.
‘It’s just not permitted, and I think the problem is if we start trying to define this ourselves, then we are going to have problems,” Commissioner Steve Stroberger said.
“I think that is correct,” Nelson responded. “When we get into some of these definitions, the very technical aspects of this are unclear.”
Commissioner Mike Kohler called for approval of the ordinance and a moratorium on data centers, with other commissioners concurring.
“If that is what is going to take to ensure an additional blanket level for our community, I don’t have an issue with that,” District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said.
“It’s banned, clearly, because the Land Development Code does not allow for it,” Commissioner Lumon May, who cast the lone vote against the resolution, said. “It’s banned. So when we say we are going to do a moratorium, well you’ve lessened the ban. Just be consistent with what we have already been doing.”
Nelson said a moratorium would require two noticed public hearings before a vote, and was not an available option for Thursday night’s action.
At a future meeting, the commission will vote on advertising the two public hearings in order to vote on a data center moratorium.
Server rooms or small data centers would be allowed “where they are an accessory use like at a Navy federal, or UWF, or a hospital. Those are already going to be allowed because they are accessory uses. The county has a server room.”
USPS Says Century, McDavid, Walnut Hill Mail Delivery Issues Resolved After Staffing Shortage
August 7, 2026
The U.S. Postal Service said on Thursday afternoon that delivery problems that plagued local residents have been resolved, and mail is once again being delivered.
Numerous residents in the 32535 (Century) and 32568 (McDavid and Walnut Hill) ZIP codes reached out to NorthEscambia.com to complain that they were not receiving any mail or packages, despite the USPS Informed Delivery Service indicating they were supposed to have incoming mail. Many of those residents were in the Pineville Road area, west of Walnut Hill near the Perdido River.
“The Postal Service strives to provide the outstanding service that our customers expect and deserve,” USPS Strategic Communications Specialist Tiffany Rowland told NorthEscambia.com by email. “Regarding mail delivery in Century and McDavid, local postal officials report recently experiencing a temporary staffing issue which has been resolved.”
As for residents’ concerns about not receiving tailpieces that show in the Informed Delivery service, she said sometimes that takes a few days.
“Many customers use a free feature, Informed Delivery, which provides images of incoming mail and status updates on packages. We remind customers that these daily notifications show items which are due to arrive soon, but not necessarily on that same day,” Rowland said. “Additionally, although our carriers strive to make delivery at a consistent time of day, occasionally mail and package volumes can fluctuate, which may result in a later delivery time.”
“Local postal management will continue to closely monitor operations and focus on providing our customers with the service they expect. We offer a sincere apology for any inconvenience that may have been experienced and appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding,” she added, saying that Postal customers are encouraged to reach out with any questions or concerns, either by calling a manager or supervisor at their local Post Office, by calling 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777), from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Central time Monday through Friday or 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. Central time on Saturday, or visiting www.usps.com.
Walnut Hill (32568) customers should not call the Walnut Hill Post Office at Escambia River Electric Cooperative; instead, they should contact the main McDavid Post Office. The Walnut Hill Post Office is a contract Post Office and does not process mail for route carriers.
To learn more about Informed Delivery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
‘Blindsided’ – Century Council Members Balk At Water, Wastewater Contract Over Lack Of Information
August 6, 2026
Blindsided.
That’s how Century Town Council President Dynette Lewis described a five-year, $17,410 per month contract with a company to run the town’s water and wastewater treatment facilities.
This week, the entire council balked at signing the contract, not because they disagreed with mayor’s recommendation to hire the company, but because council members never saw the contract and really didn’t know what was happening.
Mayor Ben Boutwell requested approval of the contract with Clearwater Solutions, the company that has provided the services for years. Council members only received a one-page proposal in advance of the meeting and have yet to see the actual contract with all of its terms and conditions.
“It’s unfortunate that we are just hearing about this, and we were not given anything that we were able to read over this and come to an understanding on the agreement prior to this meeting,” Lewis said. “That’s basically an element of surprise at a meeting.”
She said she did not see the immediacy of a vote this week, but Boutwell, who attended the meeting by phone, said a contract would lower the month-to-month payment from $20,000 to the $17,410 per month.
Council member John Bass interjected that he believed the town missed a step and the council was not informed.
Back in April, the council voted to end an expiring contract with Clearwater and directly hire two Clearwater employees, one as a contractor and one as an operator.
The mayor said both individuals are still running Century’s water and wastewater systems, but they still work for Clearwater, and they were hired on paper but never actually went to work for the town due to a Clearwater agreement.
“I feel it’s interesting that we didn’t hear anything about it until now,” Lewis said, “at a particular time we have a proposal placed in front of us at the meeting.”
“I don’t want to vote on this because I don’t feel like I have enough information,” Shelisa Abraham said. “I would like to be able to compare the old one (contract) to this one. I did not appreciate us approving to hire people, and we find out (differently) at the meeting and are expected to give a decision tonight. We haven’t had time to get details or make a well-informed decision.”
With recent rate increases, Century can afford the Clearwater contract, Boutwell said, describing the company as a “great partner for the last several years.” The council agreed, but opposed taken action without reviewing the contract.
Following a unanimous vote to table action on the Clearwater contract, Lewis said, “It seems like we should have somebody in place that should be providing these issues where we’re not basically blindsided like this.”
The town council is expected to consider the contract again at their next meeting on August 25.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Injured In Apparent Accidental Wednesday Night Shooting
August 6, 2026
An adult male suffered an apparent accidental gunshot wound on Wednesday night in Cantonment.
The shooting was reported around 10:15 p.m. on Calloway Street, south of Booker Street. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said the man suffered a gunshot wound to his side.
The man, reportedly in his 50s, was transported to an area hospital.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.