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.
Sunny And Warm Weather Continues For The Week
September 20, 2022
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. North wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 70. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 96. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 71. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph after midnight.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 92. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 67. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 88. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 67. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 89.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 84.
Smokey Bear, Florida Forest Service At Molino Library Story Time Wednesday
September 20, 2022
The Florida Forest Service and Smokey Bear will be at the Molino Library this Wednesday at 11 a.m. for Family Story Time.
Children will learn how to prevent wildfires and what it means to be a forest ranger.
The program will also be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Westside Library, and September 28 at the Pensacola Library.
Pictured: Smokey the Bear during a previous story time event earlier this month at the Tryon Library. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
10,000 Pound Food Giveaway This Afternoon In Cantonment
September 20, 2022
The Cantonment Improvement Committee will hold a drive-thru 10,000 pound food giveaway Tuesday afternoon at Carver Park on Webb Street.
The food distribution will begin at 3:30 p.m. and continue while supplies last for anyone in need of food. People should line up their vehicles, single file on Webb Street facing north; food will be loaded into vehicles. Identification is required.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Peggy Mathis McDonald
September 20, 2022
Mrs. Peggy Mathis McDonald, age 69, passed away, Sunday, September 18, 2022, at her home in Century, FL. She was lifelong resident of Century, FL. She retired from Vanity Fair Mills with many years of service. She was a member of Abundant Life Assembly of God Church.
She valued the time she has got to spend with her family, especially her two grandchildren, Kendall and Traegan. She enjoyed the great family outings, especially “Red Lobster”. She enjoyed going to church, going to the beach, the mountains, and shopping.
She is preceded in death by her parents, James Oliver Mathis, Sr; and Mary Helen Moore Mathis, husband, Charles Ware McDonald, and one brother, Jerry Wayne Mathis.
She is survived by her one son, Michael Allen McDonald, of Century, FL; two brothers, James O. “Dooley” (Vivian) Mathis, of Century, FL; Johnny Mathis, of Century, FL; four sisters, Mildred (Danny) Higdon, of Flomaton, AL; Evelyn (Bill) Cozart, of Jay, FL; Gayle (Chuck) Aldridge, of Century, FL; Kathy Mathis Simmons, of Jay, FL; two grandchildren, Kendall McDonald, Traegan McDonald, numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Funeral service will be held Thursday, September 22, 2022 at 2:00 PM at Abundant Life Assembly of God Church with Rev. Joey Johnson, and Rev. Bill Cozart officiating.
Burial will follow at Flomaton Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Thursday, September 22, 2022 from 1:00 PM until service time at 2:00 PM at Abundant Life Assembly of God Church.
Pallbearers will be Travis Johnson, Steve Stanton, Brian Conway, and Jon Jon Bondurant.
Honorary pallbearers will be Chuck Aldridge, and Joe Walston.
Miriam Ruth “Ruthie” McGhee
September 20, 2022
Ms. Miriam Ruth “Ruthie” McGhee, age 56, passed away, Thursday, September 15, 2022 in Atmore, AL. She was a resident of Poarch, AL. most of her life, and was a proud member of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. She was a member of the Dyas Assembly of God Church.
She enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren. She loved her heritage and always loved to travel. She was a”2022” contestant for the Elder Princess Contest. She obtained the qualifications to become a Tribal Artisan for her beadwork. Her passion was watching her family during NAYO and NASA and many other sporting events.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Alton Jackson and Julia Ann McGhee, grandmother, Lunie Mae McGhee, three aunts, Hattie Mae (Howard) McGhee, Marie (Otha) Martin, Frances (Billy) Robbins, and one uncle, John Arthur McGhee.
She is survived by her two sons, Heath (Heather) Wiggins, of Excel, AL; Nolan (Alex) Wiggins, of Gulf Shores, AL; one daughter, Taylor Wiggins, Poarch, AL; two brothers, Rodney McGhee, of Atmore, AL; Lathaniel (Pam) McGhee, of Pensacola, FL; two sisters, Juliette (Larry) Haikey, of Poarch, AL; Stephanie (Keith) Bryan, of Atmore, AL; two aunts, Ellen “Maxine” Johnson, of Poarch, AL; Bernice McGhee, of Poarch, AL; ten grandchildren, Aubree Wiggins, Parker Wiggins, Knox Wiggins, McCoy Wiggins, Karsyn Wiggins, Rush Wiggins, Brantley Wiggins, Charlie Wiggins, Jackson Newton, Molly Ann Newton, plus granddaughter Wiggins on the way, numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Graveside service will be Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at 2:30 PM at Judson Creek Indian Cemetery with Rev. Don Sanks officiating.
Burial will follow at Judson Creek Indian Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Nolan Wiggins, Rodney McGhee, Logan McGhee, Jeremy McGhee, Brannon Sanspree, and Chase Amerson.
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.