State Fire Marshal Investigating Backwoods Road Fire
March 28, 2025
A fire that destroyed a structure near Century Thursday night us under investigation.
Escambia County Fire Rescue freighters arrived to find the structure fully involved in the 800 block of Backwoods Road. The structure, which was reportedly a residence, was already burned halfway to the ground.
The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office was caused to investigation. There were no injuries reported in the fire, which was reported at 10:19 p.m.
The Century and McDavid stations of Escambia County Rescue, the Florida Fire Department, Escambia County EMS, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Blue Jacket Jamboree, Easter Egg Drop And Livestock Show Are Saturday In Molino
March 28, 2025
The Blue Jacket Jamboree returns on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at the Escambia County 4-H Property in Molino. Running from 10:00 a.m. until 3 p.m., this family-friendly event, hosted by the Northview FFA Alumni & Friends, promises a day filled with entertainment, agriculture, and community engagement.
The Jamboree will feature about 25 vendors, offering a variety of crafts, and local goods. Attendees can also enjoy a car show, organized by Cruisers’ Unlimited, with an antique tractor displays this year. Kids will love the free egg drop (bring your own basket), beginning at 11 a.m., as well as the dedicated kids zone, which closes at 2:00 p.m.
The Blue Jacket Jamboree celebrates Northview FFA’s dedication to agricultural education and youth development, bringing together the community for a fun and educational experience.
Admission and parking are free. The Escambia County 4-H Property is located at 5701 Highway 99 in Molino, just south of Molino Road.
In conjunction with the Jamboree, the Gulf Coast Agriculture & Natural Resources Youth Organization Annual Spring Livestock Show. will take place Friday and Saturday, March 28-29, featuring youth exhibitors showcasing poultry, rabbits, pigs, steers, heifers, goats, and lambs. The show schedule includes:
Livestock – Friday, March 28
- 1:00 PM – Poultry Show
- 2:30 PM – Beef Breeding Show
- 5:15 PM – Poultry Skillathon
- 5:30 PM – Swine Skillathon
Livestock – Saturday, March 29
- 9:00 AM – Market Swine Show
- 10:00 AM – Rabbit Show
- 11:30 AM – Market Steer Show
- 1:00 PM – Goat & Lamb Show
- 2:30 PM – Preview Steer Show
- 4:00 PM – Poultry, Market Goat & Lamb Auction
- 5:00 PM – Steer & Swine Auction
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Burglary Of An Occupied Dwelling
March 27, 2025
A Cantonment man has been charged with breaking into a residence, stealing a wallet, and damaging property before fleeing in a truck.
Roderick Ezell Purifoy, 35, was charged with unarmed burglary of an occupied dwelling, grand theft and criminal mischief with property damage.
The incident occurred on January 5, 2025, at a home on Woodbury Circle. According to the victim, he was startled awake around 10:30 a.m. to find a man standing over his bed after breaking in through a bedroom window. The victim recognized the suspect, who allegedly claimed he was there to collect a debt. Purifoy told the victim that he still owed $300 for transmission repairs made on a truck belonging to the victim’s dad, according to arrest report.
The suspect then reportedly took the victim’s wallet, which contained $100 in cash, an ID, a Social Security card, and a debit card, totaling $170 in value. Additionally, the break-in caused an estimated $350 in damage to a bedroom window, the victim reported. According to the report, the suspect was seen leaving through the same window and driving off in a dark-tinted Dodge pickup truck, allegedly causing an additional $500 in lawn damage.
Law enforcement officers responded to the scene around and later attempted to contact the Purifoy, who initially denied entering the home. However, Purifoy later admitted to being in the area and insisted that the victim still owed him $300, according to the arrest report.
The suspect reportedly hung up on investigators and turned off his phone when questioned further.
Purifoy was recently arrested on an outstanding warrant for the incident and released from jail this week on a $15,000 bond.
Cantonment Woman And Her Two Young Grandsons Injured In Pensacola Wreck
March 26, 2025
A Cantonment woman and her two young grandsons were injured in a crash Tuesday afternoon on Fairfield Drive at Highway 90.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a silver Honda Fit driven by a 33-year-old DeFuniak Springs man exited a Walgreens parking lot and entered the path of an eastbound white Hyundai Tucson. The Hyundai was driven by a 61-year-old woman from Cantonment, with her 12-year-old and 4-year-old grandsons as passengers.
The collision resulted in minor injuries for the woman and her grandsons. They were transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital. The Honda driver was uninjured and cited for failure to yield.
In His Own Words: New Northview Head Football Coach Doug Vickery
March 26, 2025
Northview vs. Flomaton has been a big rivalry for years. It’s usually a hard fought game, but a game that always ends with the Century Whataburger full of Hurricanes and Chiefs that left it all on the field and hang out together like good friends and neighbors door.
So for Doug Vickery, who was named the new head football coach at Northview Tuesday afternoon, it’s going to be an exciting fall when the two teams meet this season.
RELATED: Northview Chiefs Name Former Hurricane Doug Vickery As Head Coach
Tuesday afternoon, NorthEscambia.com interview Vickery just before we had the opportunity to be the first to break the big local sports story. Here’s what he had to say, in his own words.
“Every time we (Flomaton and Northview) play, it is like a dog fight. I’m just excited about getting over there; I’m excited about working with those kids and putting a great product on the field, something that everybody can be proud of. Kids that will hostel and fight and scratch. That’s my personality, and I’m just excited.
“Coach Summerford did such a great job there…too them to the state championship game just a few years ago. He’s got the foundation laid out, and it is a science. It’s a football rich tradition school, so I’m excited.”
Positive Personality
“I felt like what I do well is develop culture, and God have given me the ability to coach and lead young men,” he said. “You are concerned about those young men mentally and spiritually. You are constantly trying to feed those you men, and the second part is to develop toughness and implement toughness in everything that we do. The third thing is to build them up.”
“I am going to coach them hard and get on to them, but twice as much coach them up and tell them love them, brag on them, and push them in that right direction.”
“Football is a tough game, and it demands a lot out of you physically and mentally, but you’ve got to have some with it. And if you don’t have fun with it, why are you even playing the game?”
As for Friday night, he said Chiefs fans can expect to see him yelling and screaming (perhaps at the refs), but fans will also see him fist bumping, jumping up and down, and getting excited with the players.
Why cross the state line?
“I decided I had 31 years in the state of Alabama, so I’d been doing it a long time, and it was time and had an opportunity. I had some other opportunities come up these last few months when I’ve just been kind of looking around, and Northview popped up. Obviously, it’s always been in the back of my head that one day Northview would really be something I’d like to have, so it’s kind of like a dream job.”
And it’s almost a homecoming of sorts, he said. Vickery is an Atmore native, and his wife Leah is from Walnut Hill where she graduated from Ernest Ward High School.
“It just opened up, and (Principal) Mr. Sherrill’s giving me an opportunity. I can retire from Alabama, and I feel like I’ve still got a lot of juice in the tank, so I’m excited about having a group of you men that I can pour into and try to help them anyway I possibly can. That’s what I really enjoy.”
I enjoy every aspect of it from. Practice to off-season workouts to summer workouts. I think those are some of the best things, whether we’re going to camp together, or whether we’re spending time, whether we take them bowling or to a hockey game, whatever that’s some of the funniest things it keeps me young.”
And about THAT game
Former Flomaton Hurricane coach Vickery’s first season at Northview is also the first season for former Northview co-defensive coordinator Jace Gandy who is now Vickery’s successor as the new head coach at Flomaton — will end on the field in Flomaton. They know each other’s playbooks, and each other’s players.
“It will be tough,” Vickery said with a little chuckle. “Honestly, there are the kids that I have coached since they were really little, and I was their coach forever. And I love those kids, but now my sole responsibility is head football coach for Northview. So, I’m a Chief now, and I’m going to do all I possibly can. That does not mean I still don’t love those kids, but at the end of the day, it’s a game.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Foosackly’s Restaurant Planned For West Nine Mile Road
March 26, 2025
Foosackly’s has filed plans to build a new restaurant on West Nine Mile Road, which would be the chain’s third restaurant in the Pensacola area.
Foosackly’s parent company, Mobile based Three Fingers, Inc., filed the application this week with the Escambia County Development Review Committee for a 4,400 square-foot location on 5.61 acres at 2605 West Nine Mile Road, the corner of West Nine Mile and North Eight Mile Creek Road.
Plans show a single drive-thru lane with access from both Eight Mile Creek and Nine Mile roads. Plans show 60 parking spaces, including two handicap spaces.
The plans are not yet set for review or public hearing by the Escambia County Development Review Committee.
Northview Chiefs Name Former Hurricane Doug Vickery As Head Coach
March 25, 2025
The Northview Chiefs have named Doug Vickery and their next head football coach. The longtime Flomaton High School head football coach announced his retirement from the Flomaton Hurricanes last December.
“I’ve going from one rival to another, and it’s such a blessing,” Vickery told NorthEscambia.com Tuesday afternoon. “God just opened up some doors for me.”
“The Chiefs are a great team with great kids, great support and a great coaching staff already in place,” he said. “I’m excited.”
Vickery had been the head coach for the Hurricanes for 19 years. During those 19 years, Vickery led the Hurricanes to their first-ever state championship in 2018, and there have been five quarterfinal appearances. Three of his boys played football for Flomaton during his tenure where he had a record of 130-82.
Former Northview head coach Wes Summerford was named the new head football coach for the West Florida High School Jaguars in February.
Above and below: Flomaton head coach Doug Vickery. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge. Pictured bottom two photos: The Flomaton Hurricanes and Vickery celebrate their first ever state championship. Trent Penny/Anniston Star for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
