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.
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
Escambia Unemployment Rate Holds Steady Over The Past Month
September 18, 2022
The Escambia County unemployment rate held steady last month, according to newly released data from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.
The unemployment rate in Escambia County was 2.9% in August, unchanged from July. That represented 4,364 people out of work out of a county workforce of 152,346. One year ago, Escambia County’s unemployment rate was 4.6%, or 6,740 people.
The area’s total nonagricultural employment increased by 3.8% over the year in August 2022 (+7,200 jobs). Private sector employment increased by 4.8%over the year, representing 7,800 jobs gained.
The industry gaining the most jobs location over the year was professional and business services, adding 2,500 jobs.
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.7% in August 2022, a full percentage point lower than the national rate of 3.7%.
“Florida has the lowest unemployment rate among the 10 most populous states and the highest number of new business formations because we have encouraged workforce development, kept the economy open, and put Florida families first,” said Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Photo Gallery: See The Cruise In Benefit Car Show At Gonzalez UMC
September 18, 2022
A Cruise In Benefit car show was held Saturday at the Gonzalez United Methodist Church.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
The show benefited Tyler Penegar, a 29-year old cancer patient that has been approved for a trial program in Miami.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Perry Doggrell, click to enlarge.
Escambia Motorcyclist Killed In Dirt Road Crash Near Munson
September 18, 2022
An Escambia County motorcyclist was killed in a crash in the Blackwater State Forest near Munson.
The crash happened on Cemetery Road near Charlie Forster Road. The Florida Highway Patrol said the 66-year old man lost control of his motorcycle on the dirt road.
There were no other vehicles involved and no passengers on the motorcycle.
FHP no longer releases names of traffic crash victims.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.