Escambia Deputies Investigate ‘Brazen’ Daytime Robbery
May 5, 2010
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a suspect in what they describe as a “brazen” daytime robbery.
At about noon Tuesday, the suspect entered MSN Bookkeeping at 5200 Mobile Highway.
“The suspect roughed up the male victim, tied him up and left him in the office,” according to Sgt Ted Roy, spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office. “The suspect then took the wife at knife point and had her drive him to the Pen Air Credit Union on Saufley Field Road.”
Once at the credit union, the suspect proceeded to enter the bank with the wife and forced her to cash a check. The suspect then had the female victim to drive back to the business, where he fled on foot. The wife went inside the business, untied her husband and called law enforcement.
The suspect remains at large. He was described as a white male with a light colored baseball cap. He was on a cell phone the entire time he was inside the credit union, according to Roy.
Anyone with information about this crime should call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Pictured: This survelliance video from Pen Air Credit Union shows a daytime robbery suspect wearing a ball cap and talking on cell phone while forcing a woman to cash a check. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Alabama Career Centers Taking Applications For Oil Cleanup Jobs
May 5, 2010
The Alabama Career Center System is taking applications for oil spill cleanup and coastal protection jobs.
“The oil spill could mean an economic as well as an ecological disaster to the Gulf coast. Local career centers are standing by to assist people who may lose their jobs because of the spill as well as people who want jobs created because of the spill,” according to Matthew Hughes, director of the (Ala.) Governor’s Office of Workforce Development.
According to Jim Freeze, vice president and general manager of Advanced Industrial Services/GCPG Services International, at least 500 workers will be needed along the Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana coasts to perform cleanup and coastal protection jobs. Advanced Industrial Services/GCPG Services International is contracted to conduct cleanup and coastal protection operations.
Individuals interested in applying for these jobs should contact their local Alabama one-stop career center or apply online at www.joblink.alabama.gov.
In the Escambia County, Ala., area, career centers are located as follows:
Brewton Career Center
1023 Douglas Avenue Suite 314
Brewton , AL 36426
Phone: (251) 867-4376
Fax: (251) 867-5798
Bay Minette Career Center
201 Faulkner Drive
Bay Minette , AL 36507
Phone: (251) 937-4161
Fax: (251) 937-2859
Old Fashioned Day Was Big Success, Organizers Plan For 2011
May 5, 2010
Organizers say last Saturday’s Old Fashion Day in Jay was a huge success, and they are planning to hold the event again next year on the first Saturday in May.
Old Fashion Day at the Jay Historical Society Museum featured quilting, candle making, butter churning, corn grinding, story telling, pottery making and a petting zoo. There was also music and entertainment all day, and plenty of old fashioned games.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay High To Hold Talent Show
May 5, 2010
The Annual Jay High School Talent Showcase will be held Thursday night at 6:30 in the Jay High School Auditorium.
There are 20 acts scheduled to perform including singing, dancing, acting, bands, and more. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students. Doors open at 5:30. The event is sponsored by FRIENDS, a community organization. Proceeds will benefit a Jay High School student scholarship fund.
Fraud Alert: BP Oil Spill
May 4, 2010
BP Officials want everyone to be aware of scam artists posing as BP contractors, according to Sonya Daniel, Escambia County public information manager.
BP is handling volunteer registration. Anyone interested in helping, should use the toll free number to register, 1-866-448-5816. They do not use contractors to contact or solicit anyone to volunteer for cleanup, Daniel said in a news release.
Training offered by BP and Escambia County is free. There are no fees for classes or registration. The training is for participation in clean up of hazardous materials that may wash ashore.
BP officials carry proper identification badges or business cards.
Vest Carolyn Sharpless
May 4, 2010
Mrs. Vest Carolyn Sharpless, age 89, of Atmore, Ala., died Sunday, May 2, 2010. She was retired from Monsanto, born in Hartfield, Ala. to the late John H. and Maude Childs Melton.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Rex J. Sharpless, a granddaughter, Valisa Paulette Lambert and a son-in-law, L. Jackie Sims.
Mrs. Sharpless is survived by one son, James Lamar Sharpless and wife, Sandra, of Orange Beach, Ala.; two daughters, Gloria Sims of Atmore and Carolyn Lambert and husband, Gerald, of Goodway, Ala.; two sisters, Mary Elizabeth Carroll of Pensacola, Fla. and Evelyn Stokes of Mobile, Ala.; eight grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, May 5, 2010, at 2:30 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby. Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
The family will receive friends, Wednesday, May 5, 2010, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 1:30 p.m. until service time.
Active pallbearers will be David Brown, David Lambert, Joshua Johnson, Greg Sharpless, Scott Sharpless and Mark Sims.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.
Northview Baseball Regional Game Rescheduled
May 4, 2010
Tuesday nigh’s baseball game for the Northview Chiefs was rescheduled. The Chiefs will travel to Bonifay Wednesday night at 7:00 in the District 2A Regional tournament.
Byrneville Home Destroyed In Early Morning Fire
May 4, 2010
An early morning fire completely destroyed a Byrneville home.
The fire in the 200 block of Byrneville Road was reported just before 3 a.m. The house was completely involved when the first firefighters arrived on scene. The brick home was gutted by the blaze.
Firefighter said the home had been burning for some length of time before someone noticed the early morning blaze and called for help. The roof of the home had already collapsed by the time they arrived, just minutes after the 911 call.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
The occupants of the home were reportedly on vacation at the time of the fire. There were no injuries reported.
The Century, McDavid, Molino and Walnut Hill stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the call, along with the Flomaton Fire Department, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the scene, click here.
Pictured above and below: Fire completely destroyed this home in the 200 block of Byrneville Road early Tuesday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Arrest Warrants Issued For Woman That Allegedly Faked Prescriptions For Cop
May 4, 2010
Warrants have been issued for the arrest of the Atmore woman accused of calling fake prescriptions into a Century pharmacy for an Atmore police officer.
Ashley Megan Nall, 24, of Atmore, hasoutstanding warrants for two felony counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, according to Sgt. Ted Roy, spokesperson for the Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Nall called in prescriptions for Lortab and Keflex to area pharmacies. The prescriptions were then picked up by Ronald Sanford Freeman, 23, of Flomaton. The pair would then split the pills, according to the Sheriff’s Office incident report.
Freeman turned himself in at the Escambia County Jail last Friday on two felony counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. Prior to his arrest, Freeman resigned his position as a police officer in Atmore for “personal reasons”, according to Atmore Police Chief Jason Dean.
Nall was employed by Dr. Francis Salter of Atmore, and she is Salter’s granddaughter, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Two such prescriptions were called in to the Century Pharmacy and filled on February 5 and March 5. Both were in Ronald Freeman’s name, and both were for 90 Lortab pills, according to the ECSO report. When Century Pharmacy received another call-in prescription on April 19 for 90 Lortabs and 20 Keflex, they became suspicious and called Dr. Salter to verify that she had issued the prescription. When Dr. Salter said that she did not issue the prescriptions and that Freeman was not her patient, the sheriff’s department was contacted.
To read more about the case and Freeman’s arrest, click here for an earlier story.
Anyone with information about Nall’s whereabouts is asked to call the Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or their local law enforcement agency.
Apply For Oil Cleanup Jobs Wednesday In Century, Pensacola
May 4, 2010
Hundreds of people are expected Wednesday as Workforce Escarosa holds hiring events in Century and Pensacola for oil cleanup jobs that pay up to $18 per hour.
Advanced Employment Solutions (AES), a Texas based workforce development and talent acquisition company, is estimating the need for 500 people to fill positions such as general laborers, crew leaders, site supervisors, site safety representatives and lead safety representatives.
Century’s hiring event was scheduled for the Workforce Escarosa Century One-Stop at 8120 North Century Boulevard. However, Workforce Escarosa will be using the Century Ag Building on West Highway 4 (by the nursing home) for screening interviews due to the large number of people expected.
AES General Manager James Fries said the duration of the jobs will depend upon the amount of damage and the cleanup time, however he predicts the process will take between 3-18 months. Positions will range from $10 to $18 an hour and may involve extensive travel depending on the landfall of the spill.
Hiring events will be held as follows:
Century
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Workforce Escarosa
Century One-Stop
8120 North Century Boulevard
(850) 256-6259
Pensacola
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Workforce Escarosa
3670-A North L Street
(850) 607-8700
Job seekers attending the events must have a proof of U.S. citizenship, a valid driver’s license, proof of any relevant certifications (such as HAZWOPER and TWIC certifications).
Individuals interested in the employment opportunities can view a full job description by logging on to the Employ Florida Marketplace, the State of Florida’s online job search portal, at www.employflorida.com and search for job order numbers 9481666, 9481677, 9481703, 9481718, and 9481331.