Cantonment Man Charged With Felony Fleeing After 3-Mile Highway 29 Pursuit
October 1, 2026
A 46-year-old Cantonment man is facing a felony charge after allegedly failing to pull over for a deputy for roughly three miles on Highway 29 early Friday morning.
Ian Jared Keatts was charged with felony fleeing and eluding police and was served with an outstanding warrant for violation of probation related to a prior DUI case.
According to an arrest report, a deputy running stationary radar at just south of Whataburger on Highway 29 clocked a black 2016 Cadillac SUV traveling northbound at 68 mph in a 45 mph zone. The deputy pulled onto Highway 29 and caught up to the vehicle just north of Kingsfield Road, activating emergency lights and sirens to conduct a traffic stop.
Instead of pulling over, the vehicle continued northbound while obeying all other traffic laws and traveling within the speed limit.
The deputy pulled alongside the Cadillac and saw the driver’s side window rolled down. Despite the deputy’s sirens and multiple commands broadcast over the patrol vehicle’s public address system instructing the driver to pull over, the vehicle continued down Highway 29. The report noted there was no other traffic on the roadway and ample opportunities to safely stop.
The vehicle eventually turned into the parking lot of the Black Diamond Club at 208 South Highway 29, approximately three miles from where the deputy first attempted to initiate the stop.
Keatts was taken into custody without incident. A background check revealed the active Escambia County warrant for violation of probation.
In addition to the felony fleeing charge, Keatts was issued a civil traffic citation for speeding. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail, where he was held without bond on the probation violation warrant.
Northview High School Names 2026 Homecoming Court; Queen To Be Crowned Tonight
October 1, 2026
Northview High School has named their 2026 Homecourt Court.
The queen and her court will be crowned during the homecoming game, which was rescheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday.
The court members are:
Seniors
- Brielle Garcia
- Makayla Plato
- Val Franco
- Hallie Emmons
- Emma Holder
Juniors
- Peyton Lee
- Akeylah Jefferson
- Maddy Pittman
Sophomores
- Alexa Beasley
- Payton Coon
- Briley Moore
Freshmen
- Ryleigh Crabtree
- Jayden Carter
- Linley Dunn
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Approves Lower Tax Rate, $8.48 Million Budget
September 30, 2026
In a quick 7-minute meeting Tuesday afternoon, the Century Town Council unanimously approved lower property taxes and an $8.48 million budget.
The council approved a millage rate of 1.0405. While higher than the 0.9204 mills that has been in place for several years, 1.0405 is the “rolled-back” rate — the computed millage rate that will generate the same amount of ad valorem tax dollars as the prior fiscal year, or about $69,916.
The council previously approved a tentative budget of $8,477,476.56 for FY 2026-2027, which begins October 1, 2026. That is down from $9.2 million during the current fiscal year.
The new budget goes into effect for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, which begins on October 1.
To view the complete budget, click here (pdf).
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
