Michael Ray Gaddis
September 20, 2022
Dr. Michael “Mike” R. Gaddis, 63, of Cantonment, Florida passed away unexpectedly Friday, September 16, 2022. He was born October 21, 1958 in Owensboro, KY.
Mike was a loving husband, father, grandad and dog dad. He was a proud Chahta hattak, a man of many hobbies, a talented artist, guitarist, and a member of Mensa. He is preceded in death by his father, Coy;
and his mother, Betty.
He is survived by his wife Dawn; his brother James Gaddis; sister Eudora Cannon; brother Mike C. Gaddis; daughters Kristen Gaddis and Sabrina (Josh) Gerstel; son Christopher (Christina) Gaddis; eight grandchildren: Elijah, Aubryana, Makayla, Josiah and Noah Gerstel; Maria, Daniel and Charlotte Gaddis; several nieces and nephews; and his dog babies Gracie and George.
A public memorial gathering will be held Friday, September 23, 2022 at Family-Funeral & Cremation 5627 North Davis Highway. The family will receive visitors from 5-7 and will hold a private burial at a later date.
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.
Sunny And Dry This Week; Highs In The 90s
September 19, 2022
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 90. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 65. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 93. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 70. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 93.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 69.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 91.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 69.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 89.
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.
Florida Gas Prices Down 20 Cents In Three Weeks
September 19, 2022
Florida gas prices declined three cents last week, but the state average is down 20 cents per gallon over the past three weeks, according to AAA.
Florida gas prices have now fallen a total of $1.47 per gallon since mid-June. On Sunday, Florida gas prices averaged $3.42 per gallon. That’s the lowest daily average price since February 1st.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $3.20, the lowest metro price in the state. The lowest North Escambia price Sunday night was $3.08 on Muscogee Road in Cantonment, while at least nine stations in Pensacola were under $3 per gallon.
“Crude oil and gasoline futures finished the week slightly lower than the week before, on ongoing concerns that a global recession and potential U.S. interest rate hike could stifle global fuel demand,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “This should enable gas prices to slip even lower this week.”
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Blue Wahoos Wrap Regular Season With 5-2 Win Over Biloxi
September 19, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos ended their 10th regular season in team history with a 5-2 win over the Biloxi Shuckers on Sunday afternoon, heading to the Southern League playoffs with a 68-63 record.
In just his second Double-A start, Luis Palacios (W, 1-0) silenced the Shuckers with 5.0 one-hit innings to snap Biloxi’s winning streak at nine and avoid a sweep.
The Blue Wahoos broke through in the third inning against Carlos Luna (L, 5-6) with a Griffin Conine RBI single to take a 1-0 lead. After Biloxi’s Tristen Lutz briefly tied the game 1-1 with a solo homer in the fifth, Pensacola came right back with another Conine RBI single and a Will Banfield RBI double in the bottom of the inning to reclaim the lead for good.
Conine ends the regular season with 24 home runs and 74 runs batted in, both single-season records for the Blue Wahoos franchise.
Palacios handed the game to the Pensacola bullpen after five innings as Jorge Mercedes, Tyler Mitzel, Chandler Jozwiak and Andrew McInvale (S, 1) kept Biloxi at arm’s length. Davis Bradshaw capped the scoring with an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth to bring the score to a 5-2 final.
After an off day on Monday, the Blue Wahoos begin the best-of-three Southern League Division Series against the Montgomery Biscuits on Tuesday night in Montgomery.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Robert (Bob) Clair Bruce
September 19, 2022
Robert (Bob) Clair Bruce, 84, of Pensacola, Florida passed away on the morning of September 18, 2022.
Bob was born to Clara and Ruben Bruce on April 11, 1938. Bob retired as a Master Chief Petty Officer in the United States Navy and was also a proud graduate of Florida State University with his Doctorate in Education. He was lovingly nicknamed “Dr. Bob” and enjoyed sharing stories with everyone he met. Bob loved taking his dog, Titus, on walks and drives around his neighborhood, frequenting local breakfast eateries every morning, and playing solitaire on his computer while listening to oldies. He was very active in his church, serving as a deacon, and worked as a medical transporter at the hospital. He had extremely successful careers, a testament of his strength and intelligence, and raised beautiful families – leaving behind a legacy that will always be cherished and remembered.
Bob is preceded in death by his father, Ruben Bruce; his mother, Clara Bruce; his brother, Jeffrey Bruce; his wife, Alice Bruce; and his son, Robert Keith Bruce. Bob is survived by his sisters Wanda Oswalt and Barbra Henkel; his son, William Steven Bruce (Kelly); his grandchildren Aaron Bruce (Alison), Samantha Mahon (Matt), and Stephanie Torres (Orlando); his great grandchildren Maci Bruce, Alexander Bruce,Alice Bruce, Adeline Torres, Mateo Torres, and soon-to-be great grandson Sterling Mahon.
Please join us in a joyful celebration of life remembering Robert Bruce on September 25th at 1pm at Plainview Baptist Church, 1101 W. Nine Mile Rd, Pensacola, FL 32534.
In lieu of flowers, Bob would want for your love to be expressed by setting aside time towards “making
memories” with those closest to you.