Billings Murder Featured On Oprah
October 8, 2009
The world was able to look inside the home of Byrd and Melanie Billings Wednesday for the first time since their murder on the Oprah television show.
Ashley Markham, their daughter, provided information about the nine special needs children that she and her husband Blue now call their own.
Markham said when she called the house on July 9 she could not understand why her 10-year old brother Jacob, who suffers from Down’s Syndrome told her that the Billings were laying on the floor.
“She would talk about it to us. ‘If something were to happen, make sure my babies are taken care of. Make sure they’re all kept together’,” Ashley, 27, told Oprah.
And that is what Ashley and Blue are doing, she said, taking care of the children and even sleeping in the bedroom where Byrd and Melanie died.
“It’s just the way it’s supposed to be,” Blue said.
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan also appeared on the show via a Skype Internet conference.
“We have an excellent case,” Morgan said, adding that all eight accused in the case had entered not guilty pleas.
A portion of Oprah’s segment about the Billings family include an appeal for donations to help the family financially take care of the nine special needs children.
For more on the show, visit www.oprah.com.
Pictured top: Ashley and Blue Markham on Wednesday’s Oprah. Pictured below: Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan records his segment on September 24. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photo top courtesy Harpo Productions.
Century Man Gets Nine Months In Jail On Drug Charges
October 8, 2009
A Century man arrested during a Century drug sweep back in May has been sentenced to nine months in the count jail on possession charges.
George Henry Dubose, 33, was arrested May 27 at his 21 Ramar Street home as SWAT teams executed 10 search warrants and made 19 felony drug arrests across Century. He was charged with cocaine possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Dubose was found guilty on both charges and sentenced to 270 days in the Escambia County Jail on each count to run concurrently, with credit for seven days he was incarcerated after his arrest. He was also ordered to pay a public defender lien of $100, and he had his driver’s license revoked for two years.
Unseasonably Warm, Heat Indices 100 to 105 Possible Today And Friday
October 8, 2009
The calendar says October, but it’s going to feel more like July the next couple of days, unless you are lucky enough to see a thunderstorm.
The official North Escambia weather forecast call for highs around near 90 today and Friday. Add in very high humidity, and the heat index — how hot if feels — will approach 105. Not everyone will experience the unusually oppressive October heat; there is a 30 to 40 percent chance of a thunderstorm both days.
By the middle of next week, much more seasonable weather returns, with lows in the 50’s and highs in the 70’s.
Here is your official North Escambia weather forecast:
- Thursday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. South wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Friday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Saturday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. South wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Saturday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 68. West wind around 5 mph becoming north. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Sunday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Sunday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Columbus Day: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 77.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54.
EWMS Cheerleaders Sponsoring Beauty Pageant
October 8, 2009
The Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders are sponsoring a Miss North Escambia pageant on Saturday, October 24.
Entry fees, paperwork and photos for the photogenic category must be submitted by October 10.
For an entry form and more details, click here (pdf).
Editor’s note: The EWMS cheerleaders Miss North Escambia pageant is in no way affiliated with NorthEscambia.com.
Fire Department Receives $10,000
October 8, 2009
The Lambeth Volunteer Fire Department, which serves Lambeth (Ala.) community near Flomaton, has received a $10,000 award from Georgia-Pacific.
The Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade is a national program that recognizes the contributions of fire departments in communities with Georgia-Pacific facilities. Launched in 2006, the initiative has contributed approximately $500,000 to rural and small town fire units across the United States.
The program supports firefighters with product and cash donations for programming and purchasing necessary equipment, and safety education materials for presentations in local schools. This year’s 24 Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade winners were chosen from more than 100 applicants in 28 states.
“We appreciate the work that volunteer and small town fire departments do in our facility communities all across this country,” said Jim Hannan, CEO and President, Georgia-Pacific. “Because many of our employees also serve as volunteer firefighters, we understand the demands on these units and their need for equipment and financial support. The Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade program allows us to show our appreciation for the essential services they provide.”
The Lambeth VFD was the only Alabama grant recipient in the program.
Century Man Arrested For Skipping Court On Indecent Exposure Charges
October 8, 2009
A Century man who failed to show up in court on charges that he showed private body parts to three people — including two underage juveniles — is back in the Escambia County Jail after being located in Century Wednesday.
Ronald Berlan Newton, 48, of Blackmon Street, Century, was due to appear before Circuit Court Judge Jan Shackelford on one charge of indecent exposure and two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior by a person over 18 on a victim under 16 years old. He was released on $21,000 bond.
When he failed to appear, the judge issued a warrant for his arrest. He was arrested by Escambia County deputies early Wednesday afternoon, two days after a story about his warrant and photo appeared on NorthEscambia.com. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Newton was first arrested September 2 after allegedly exposing himself to an adult female and two female juveniles. Newton, according to the arrest report, approached the woman and asked for change for a $20 bill. As the woman went to get the change, according to the report, Newton, who was dressed in a white robe, exposed himself. When questioned by deputies, Newton denied the accusations against him.
More Details On 2001 Cold Case That Prompted Tuesday Manhunt
October 7, 2009
We now know more information about Bruce Edward Day, 42, the murder suspect that was the subject of a massive manhunt in Pensacola Tuesday afternoon.
The murder warrant that U.S. Marshals attempted to serve Tuesday afternoon was issued Monday, according to Escambia County (Ala.) Chief Deputy Mike Lambert. in connection to the death of Woodrow “Token” Allen (pictured left), officially reported missing from Nokomis in 2001.
“They felt like there was enough evidence to obtain the warrant at this time and get a conviction,” Lambert told NorthEscambia.com. He was not disclose what new evidence or information prompted prosecutors to seek the warrant eight years after Allen went missing.
“We can’t disclose any of that right now,” Lambert said. “But there is now enough evidence to convict him.”
Click here for information about Tuesday’s manhunt.
Allens body has not been located, the chief deputy said. “He is considered a murder victim and missing at this time,” he said.
Day was arrested on attempted murder charged in January 2002 for shooting three times into a vehicle on James Road in Nokomis on October 28, 2001. The vehicle was occupied at the time by Allen, 25, and his juvenile niece.
Allen’s mother reported him missing on December 17, 2001, claiming that she has last seen her son on December 13, 2001.
Allen was last seen walking away from the residence of his friend, Donald David Clemmons on Nathan Road in Nokomis. When Day was arrested by Escambia County (Ala.) deputies in January 2002, he was in a vehicle on Highway 31 in Nokomis with Clemmons, according to reports. Methamphetamines and drug paraphernalia were found in the vehicle with the two men, deputies said.
Day was charged with shooting into an occupied vehicle, two counts of attempted murder, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Authorities said Allen was scheduled to testify against Day over the shooting. Day was found not guilty on the attempted murder charges, and he was sentenced to a year in jail for reckless endangerment.
Lambert said no warrants have been issued for Clemmons. “He is not a suspect in this case,” he told NorthEscambia.com Tuesday.
Authorities tried for weeks to locate Allen, who lived on Ammons Road on the Baldwin-Escambia county line.
Tim Hawsey, who was sheriff at the time of the Allen’s disappearance, said Tuesday that he remembers the hours spent searching the area for Allen, including a horseback ride through a wooded area.
“I remember we searched a lot, but we were just not able to find him,” Hawsey said.
Authorities even searched Dyas Lake in Baldwin County for Allen’s body after a tipster indicated that he was thrown into the Lake. A diving team was unable to locate any sign of his body.
Click here for information about Tuesday’s manhunt.
Photo courtesy WEAR.
Already A Competitor For Bay Minette’s New Auto Plant?
October 7, 2009
Just two weeks after Benjamin Yeung announced his HK Motors would bring a hybrid automotive plant and 5,000 jobs to Bay Minette, his former business partner has announced a similar $1 billion plant in north Mississippi.
Charles Wang, CEO of GreenTech Automotive, Inc., unveiled four prototype hybrids in Tunica the company hopes to build as soon as they secure $1 billion in funding.
Wang and Yeung are former business partners that, according to court documents, had planned to build the Tunica plant together. After a disagreement, Yeung announced plans for Bay Minette and Wang stayed in Tunica.
Yeung’s Alabama plans — which locates a massive plant just on 3,000 acres just a few miles from North Escambia — calls for initial production of all model lines to begin in 2013, with a Phase 1 capacity of 300,000 vehicles, while creating more than 5,000 direct jobs.
Want’s Mississippi plan a $1 billion facility on 1,500 acres with an 1,500 jobs and an initial production of 150,000 vehicles annually.
That’s not where the similarities end — both men say their companies need the $1 billion in funding to get cars rolling of their assembly lines. Both have said they are confident they will secure funding, but neither has provided many details. GreenTech has said that they play to pursue a fast track government immigration program that provides citizenship to foreigners investing in U.S. businesses.
“We are excited to be bringing the latest in automotive innovation to Americans, made by Americans, and we look forward to the very significant impact that our project will have on the local and regional economic landscape,”" Wang said Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Baldwin County Commission and HK Motors signed a letter of intent Tuesday on the 3,000 acre parcel near Bay Minette, allowing HK Motors to move forward towards securing funding.
Pictured above: An artist rendering of one of the GreenTech vehicles announced Tuesday in Mississippi. Submitted for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Works Continues On Molino Road Resurfacing Project
October 7, 2009
Work is continuing to resurface Molino Road from Highway 29 to Highway 99.
The $858,713.05 bid for the project was awarded back in July to Roads Inc. of NWF to resurface and reconstruct portions of the road. The project also includes other work such as stormwater pollution control, mulch, shoulder work and pavement striping.
Roads, Inc. is allowed under their contract to close just one lane at a time during the project only during working hours.
The Molino Road project is being funding by Local Option Sales Tax funds.
Other bidders on the project were Panhandle Grading and Paving, Inc. for $906,933.12, APAC Southeast, Inc. for $1,287,682.35, and Gulf Atlantic Constructors, Inc. for $1,427,555.12.
Pictured above: Work continued Tuesday afternoon to resurface Molino Road. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Graduations To Remain At Civic Center, Except For Northview
October 7, 2009
Six Escambia County High Schools — not including Northview — will use the Pensacola Civic Center for graduation exercises in 2010.
The Escambia County School Board has approved the $26,630.88 rental fee for the Escambia County owned facility for June 2 and 3, 2010, for graduations for Washington, Pensacola, Escambia, Tate, West Florida and Pine Forest high schools.
Northview High School will not use the Pensacola Civic Center for its 2010 graduation; the school traditionally uses the gym with an overflow crowd watching the event on a video feed in the school theater.
The rental fee includes the use of the building and items like security, medical and event staff.