Driver Crashes Through Fence, Into Tree On Molino Road
September 20, 2022
There were no injuries when a SUV crashed through a fence and into a tree Tuesday morning in Molino.
The single vehicle crash happened about 7:25 a.m. in the 900 block of Molino Road near Veazey Lane.
The driver refused EMS transport to the hospital.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Highway 95A Resurfacing Begins; New Traffic Pattern Recommended For Jim Allen Elementary Area
September 20, 2022
Work started Monday to resurface Highway 95A from Molino to Cantonment, and a new suggested traffic pattern will be introduced this week in an attempt to alleviate problems near Jim Allen Elementary School.
Highway 95A Resurfacing
Highway 95A is being milled and resurfaced by contractor Roads, Inc. from Highway 29 in Molino to the intersection with Highway 29 and Morris Avenue in Cantonment. The 9.16 mile, $2.1 million project will also include the shoulders and turn lanes.
“I’m so excited for the beginning of the much needed resurfacing of over 9 miles of Highway 95A from Molino all the way south to the heart of Cantonment,” Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said Monday.
Lane closures are planned from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m.
According to Escambia County, paving near Jim Allen Elementary on the southern end of the project is planned for Saturday, October 2 in order to not interfere with school traffic.
Weather permitting, the resurfacing should be completed by October 7. About two weeks later, final thermoplastic striping will be installed over the temporary paint striping.
Improving Jim Allen Elementary Traffic
Officials are hoping that a new suggested traffic pattern will alleviate big traffic problems near drop-off and dismissal times at Jim Allen Elementary School on Highway 95A.
As NorthEscambia.com reported in late August, vehicles line the side of the roadway waiting to turn into the school during car rider times, and vehicles travel on the shoulder to get around a backed up turn lane.
“We will have signage installed attempting to direct through, non-local, traffic away from the area in front of Jim Allen Elementary during the student drop-off times in the morning and student pick-up times in the afternoon. We are hoping all non-local traffic will utilize Neal Road and Highway 29 to make their way between Molino and Cantonment during these high congestion times in front of the school for the increased safety of all involved,” Barry said.
The signs asking drivers to use Neal Road, and avoid Jim Allen Elementary during peak times, are expected to be installed by the end of this week.
Pictured top: In late August, an Escambia School bus became stuck when attempting to pass traffic on the shoulder of Highway 95A near Jim Allen Elementary School. Pictured below: A dump truck passes traffic near the school. Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Emergency Dispatcher Lunsford Retires After 35 Years
September 20, 2022
Escambia County emergency dispatcher Doug Lunsford retired Monday after 35 years of service to Escambia County. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Updated: Missing Cat Found Deceased; Carjacking Did Not Happen
September 20, 2022
Update: We are told by the Friends of the Escambia County Animal Shelter that Slinky the cat has been found deceased, and there was never a carjacking as first reported by the group.
Monday night, the Friends group told us that foster kitty “Slinky” was believed to be inside a vehicle carjacked Sunday night at a convenience store at Nine Mile Road at Pine Forest Road.
Tuesday afternoon, Friends of the Escambia County Animal Shelter said the individual was not carjacked but appears to have suffered a medical emergency. Friends President Kim Rainer said the vehicle was located Tuesday across the intersection in the Publix parking lot with Slinky deceased inside.
“Slinky came in as a stray in late July. She was shy and a little fearful, so the shelter put her with an experienced foster to help her come out of her shell,” Rainer told NorthEscambia.com.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday afternoon that it did not appear that they responded to a carjacking in the area on Sunday and are not investigating. An Escambia County spokesperson was researching the incident. Check back for further updates.
Pictured: Foster kitty “Slinky”. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Gets 127.5 Months After Pleading In Child Porn Case
September 20, 2022
A Cantonment man took a plea deal in a child porn case and was sentenced to prison prior to jury selection Monday.
Patrick Taylor Wynn, 31, pleaded no contest and found found guilty of 10 counts of possession of child pornography. He was sentenced by Judge Coleman Robinson to 127.5 months in state prison with credit for just over two years served in the county jail awaiting trial since his July 2020 arrest.
As part of the plea arrangement, 10 additional child porn charges against Wynn were dropped, as were charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Ian Lopez, Wynn’s roommate, was also charged in the case and received just over 10.5 years in prison in a plea deal last December.
In 2020, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office receive a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding 5,208 upload files of apparent child pornography. The user account information, including the username “John Appleseed”, user id, email and IP address were provided.
The IP address was traced to an address in the 4000 block of Pebble Creek Drive, where the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant .
A resident of the home described Wynn and Lopez as partners that had recently moved to 3061 Wiggins Lane in Cantonment.
Wynn told deputies that he viewed adult pornography, but when questioned further he requested an attorney, according to an arrest report.
Deputies found a thumb drive in a master bathroom connected to Lopez’s room that contained at least 20 images of obvious child pornography, the report states. A SD card containing at least 20 child porn videos, a thumb drive with 20 more child porn videos, and portable hard drive with three child pron videos were located in Wynn’s bedroom, the arrest report states.
The videos pertained to male children between about five and 15-years old engaged in sexual activity, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Also in Wynn’s bedroom, the ECSO reported they found a pipe and crystal methamphetamine.
A preliminary digital forensics examination conducted on Wynn’s iPhone found an account matching the reported storage account containing 5,208 child pornography images, the ECSO said.
Jamaican Man Charged With Traveling To Escambia County To Meet A Child For Sexual Conduct
September 20, 2022
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has arrested a Jamaican man for a traveling to Escambia County to meet a child for sexual activity.
Taje Ghavri Samuels, 31, was charged with one count of travelling to meet a minor to engage in sexual conduct after online solicitation, seven counts of transmission of harmful material to minors and one count of use of a two-way communications device to facilitate a felony.
FDLE began its investigation in August when Samuels initiated online contact with undercover agents posing as a 14-year-old female. Using the Kik messenger application, he sent lewd photos of himself and arranged to travel to meet the agent.
He was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond. The case will be prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office, First Judicial Circuit.
According to FDLE, the offenses would also be illegal in his home country. Jamaican law prevents a citizen from engaging in this conduct not only in Jamaica but “in any part of the world”, FDLE said.
The Pensacola Police Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security assisted in the investigation.
Cantonment Woman Charged With Cyberstalking, Threatening To Kill Her Sister
September 19, 2022
A Cantonment woman is charged with cyberstalking and threatening to kill or harm her sister.
Amelia Travis, 31, allegedly threatened to kill her own boyfriend in a call to her sister, then sent her sister threatening text messages.
“I killed him you next (expletive) call the police,” she stated in a text message to her sister before sending a profanity-laced threat, according to an arrest report. The sister told deputies that she feared for her life and the safety of her children.
When arrested, Travis told deputies that she was just angry, and she was not going to kill her sister.
The arresting officer noted that none of the parties appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or other substances.
Travis was charged with a felony written or electronic threat to kill or harm another, and misdemeanor cyberstalking. She remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond Monday morning.
Century Correctional K-9 Team Takes First Place In Southeastern State Manhunt Field Trials
September 19, 2022
The Century Correctional Institution K-9 team took a first place win for the second consecutive year at the Southeastern State Manhunt Field Trials.
They competed in the multi-leash division –more than one dog running the track. This year they used beagles and hounds for both scent tracks.
They run a day track and night track. Each track is 1.5 miles long and scents are between 1.5-2 hours old.
Century Correctional’s average time for the daytime and nighttime track was 11:11.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bonus Photos: Northview Band, Cheerleaders, ROTC, Homecoming
September 19, 2022
The Northview Chiefs celebrated a homecoming win over Elberta Friday night.
- For a bonus gallery with the band, cheerleaders, ROTC and more, click here.
- For new football action photos and a game summary, click here.
- For the homecoming court and photos, click here.
- For the homecoming parade, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sneak Peek: Planting Thanksgiving Dinner For 1,000 Needy Families
September 19, 2022
Every November, NorthEscambia.com takes you to Farm City Week, and this year we are giving you an early sneak peak.
During Farm City Week, a couple of hundred or so student volunteers from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties work for a day in the fields near Jay to harvest collards, bag sweet potatoes, and more that will feed needy families at Thanksgiving.
Recently, the University of Florida’s West Florida Research and Education Center in Jay planted collards donated by Wendt Farm and Nursery. They collards will be ready just in time to harvest for Thanksgiving meals for about 1,000 families in partnership with Feeding the Gulf Coast and Waterfront Rescue Mission.
At the bottom of the page, you can see the harvested collards in 2021.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
