Janice Wright
February 25, 2011
Janice Wright, 72, of Milton passed away February 23, 2011 with her family beside her.
She was a member of Joy Bible Baptist Church for the past 10 years.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Johnny and Eunice Wright; her husband of 31 years, Robert L. Wright, Sr. and her son, Edward R. McConnell, Jr.
Janice is survived by two daughters, Sheila (Robert) Case of Washington and Teresa (Kenny) Jordan of Milton; three brothers, Raymond Wright of Molino, J.B. Wright of Crestview, and Dickie Wright of Molino; six grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Friday February 25, 2011 at 2 PM at the Chapel of National Cremation & Burial Society with Brother Tommy Danley officiating with Mr. Kenny Jordan, Son-in-law, presenting the eulogy. Interment will follow in Memory Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 1 PM until the service hour. Flowers are appreciated or memorial contributions may be made to Covenant Hospice of Milton.
Following the service the family would like to invite everyone to their home at 5612 Jones Street, Milton.
National Cremation & Burial Society of Milton has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Donna B. Peebles
February 24, 2011
Mrs. Donna B. Peebles, 51, passed away on Thursday, February 24, 2011, at a local hospital.
Mrs. Peebles was a native of Pascagoula, MS and a resident of Bratt for the past 24 years. She was an employee of West Florida Medical Center Clinic, a pastor’s wife of the Molino First Assembly of God Church, and a member of the Bratt Assembly of God Church.
She is survived by her husband, Rev. Ricky Peebles of Bratt; two sons, Jason and Jennifer Peebles of Walnut Hill,and Jarrod and Jean Peebles of Bratt; five granddaughters, Liberty Peebles, Gabbie Peebles, Memory Peebles, Dakota Peebles and Rebecca Peebles; and three sisters, Tammy Harper of Pensacola, Anita Sanchez of Duluth, GA, and Marcie Andrews of Pensacola.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, February 27, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. at the Bratt Assembly of God Church with the Rev. Ronald Broadhead, the Rev. Theron Collinsworth, and the Rev. Bobby Thompson officiating.
Burial will follow at Godwin Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Saturday, February 26, 2011, from 6-9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home in Atmore.
Investigation Continues In Escambia Murder
February 24, 2011
The investigation is continuing into the murder of an Escambia County woman whose body was found Wednesday in a shallow grave.
Sheriff’s investigators are following a number of promising leads in hopes of gathering enough evidence to make an arrest in the recent death of a local woman.
The body of Catherine Angelica Lindsey, 22, was discovered at around 2:25 p.m. Wednesday in the wooded area behind the Twin Oaks Villas Apartments.
Lindsey’s family notified the Sheriff’s Office and reported her missing on February 18.
Wednesday, deputies said they interviewed a “person of interest” in the case, but no arrests were made.
While investigators assigned to the case searched the wooded area for evidence in that missing person case, they discovered her body in a shallow grave.
Investigators have classified Lindsey’s death as a homicide, but they are awaiting the results of an autopsy to know the exact cause of death.
“I’m unable to speak to the specifics of this case,” said Sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Chris Welborn, “but our investigators are making promising progress towards making an arrest.”
Teams of investigators have remained busy interviewing a number of people including a “person of interest”, Welborn said.
Bad News For Gulf Coast: Tanker Contract To Boeing
February 24, 2011
The Air Force has awarded a $35 billion contract to build air tankers to Boeing — meaning that thousands of jobs will not be coming to Mobile and surrounding areas on the Gulf Coast.
“Sometimes you just do the best you can do,” Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley said Thursday afternoon.
The competition to build the tanker was between the European company EADS — which would have built the aircraft in Mobile — and Boeing of Chicago.
An EADS announcement would have meant thousands of jobs for the Gulf Coast, including tens of thousands of anticipated potential spinoff jobs in Pensacola and the North Escambia area
The first aircraft are expected to be delivered by 2017.
Lady Royals Defeat Northview 7-6
February 24, 2011
The Jay Lady Royals defeated the Lady Chiefs of Northview 7-6 in Bratt.
Camille Drive went 44 with a couple of RBI, and Tessa Hendricks had a two-run double for the Royals. Winning pitcher for Jay was Sidney Lowery with seven innings on the mound.
The Lady Royals will travel to Central at 4 p.m. Thursday. The Lady Chiefs will travel to Freeport on Friday, with the JV playing at 4:00 and the varsity at 6:00.
WP—Sidney Lowery, 7 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 3K
LP—Duran 3 IP, 6H, 5 R, 3ER, 3 BB, 2K.
Jay Hitters: Camille Drive 4-4, 2 RBI; Olivia Wright 3-4, 2 2B, 2R, 1RBI; Becca Calloway 2-4, 3B, RBI; Ashlyn Geck 2-3; Tessa Hendricks 1-4, 2B, 2 R, 2RBI, 2R.
Century’s Only Shelter Is Officially Closed; Evacuees To Be Bused To Bratt
February 24, 2011
Century’s only hurricane shelter has now officially been closed, and a plan has been created to bus any Century hurricane evacuees nine miles away to Northview High School.
Carvery/Century K-8 School closed as an educational facility in May, 2009, but has remained available as an evacuation shelter until this month.
The Escambia County School District will no longer keep kitchen facilities, emergency food commodities and janitorial supplies available at the Century shelter, according to John Dosh, Escambia County Emergency Management director.
“Up until now, the building has been available as a shelter,” Dosh said Wednesday. “But without food and supplies, it is no longer a viable shelter and feeding space.”
Dosh said the American Red Cross, which provides logistic support for the shelter, is unable to support the Century shelter without supplies stored at the facility. He said that the shelter is “so far removed” that it could be impossible for the Red Cross to serve the shelter with a mobile feeding unit after a major storm.
“Century residents needing shelter will be encouraged to use Northview High School in the future,” Dosh said. A plan has been formulated for Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) to provide buses that might need transportation from Century to Northview High School in Bratt.
Northview’s shelter has food, supplies and cooking facilities available on site when it is opened for evacuees seeking refuge from hurricanes or other emergencies.
Six Area Residents Arrested On State Drug Charges, Meth Lab Found
February 24, 2011
Six Molino and Cantonment residents were arrested Tuesday on multiple drug charges. Two of those arrested were charged in connection with a meth lab found on Molino Road.
The six arrests on state charges were in addition to a dozen arrests on federal charges as federal, state and local law enforcement conducted “Operation Blister Pack” Tuesday. For information about the federal arrests, click here.
Molino Road Meth Lab
Sheldon Dewayne Flowers, 28, of Molino Road, Molino was charged with trafficking methamphetamine more than 200 grams, possession of methamphetamine, manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a listed chemical, He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $650,500.
Stephanie Flowers, 27, of Molino Road, Molino, was charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $5,500.
Tuesday morning, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit discovered a meth laboratory inside a home at 484 Molino Road. According to their report, deputies found methamphetamine, numerous items used in the manufacture of meth and a stolen Rug Doctor cleaning machine.
Deputies discovered a mason jar containing enough methamphetamine liquid to produce well over 200 grams of meth, along with a large “one pot” meth lab.
For more exclusive NorthEscambia.com photos from the alleged Molino meth lab, click here.
Traffic Stop Finds Meth
John David Godwin, 24, of Williams Ditch Road, Cantonment, was charged with producing methamphetamine, trafficking in methamphetamine over 14 grams, possession of listed chemical, possession of marijuana less than 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Escambia County investigators said Godwin was found in possession of meth and the meth-making items following a traffic stop January 6, 2011, near Well Line Road and Lakeview Road in Cantonment. He remained jailed with bond set at $37,000.
Possession Of A Listed Chemical
Michael David Archer, 33, of Lakeview Avenue, Cantonment, was charged with 13 counts of possession of a listed chemical for purchasing excessive amounts of pseudoephedrine at various stores and pharmacies in Pensacola between June 2009 and November 2010. He remained in jail with bond set at $13,000.
Kellie Lyn Odom, 33, of Duxbury Avenue, Molino, was charged with 22 counts of possession of a listed chemical for purchasing excessive amounts of pseudoephedrine at various stores and pharmacies in Pensacola between June 2009 and September 2010. She was released on $22,000 bond.
Ronnie Orbin Lambeth, 62, of Eden Lane, Cantonment, was charged with seven counts of possession of a listed chemical for purchasing excessive amounts of pseudoephedrine at various stores and pharmacies in Pensacola between August 2009 and October 2010. He was released on $7,000 bond.
Pictured inset: An alleged meth lab was located Tuesday morning at this home at 484 Molino Road. Pictured below: Alleged liquid meth was found in the Mason jar below. Investigators transferred the liquid into the smaller plastic bottle for evidence. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
12 Indicted On Federal Drug Charges; Most From North Escambia
February 24, 2011
A federal indictment has been returned charged 12 people with conspiring to obtain pseudoephedrine in order to manufacture methamphetamine. Most were residents of Molino or Cantonment.
The federal indictment charges that the suspects were involved in a conspiracy to possess and distribute pseudoephedrine for use in manufacturing methamphetamine.
Those arrested in the federal operation dubbed “Operation Blister Pack” were:
- James Brown, 45, of Molino Road, Molino
- Tonya Foster, 36, of Vaughn Street, Cantonment
- Aaron Hendrickson, 36, of Hwy. 95A, Cantonment
- Rebecca Jernigan, 36, of Still Road, Century
- Patricia Love, 29, of Eastman Lane, Cantonment
- Raymond Love, 30, of Highway 29, Molino
- William Neal, 29, of Williams Ditch Road, Cantonment
- Terra Palmer, 34, of Daylily Road, Cantonment
- Matthew Ramsey, 38, of Duxbury Avenue, Molino
- William Robbins, 23, of Duxbury Avenue, Molino
- Nicholas Scott, 31, of Rumford Road, Molino
- Terry Wolfe, 47, of Robertsdale, Ala.
Ramsey and Wolfe are also charged with conspiring to manufacture the methamphetamine itself. In addition to the federal indictment, state drug charges were filed yesterday against other individuals alleged to have been involved in the organization.
The 12 arrests on federal charges were in addition to a half dozen arrests on state level charges as federal, state and local law enforcement conducted “Operation Blister Pack” Tuesday. For information about the arrests on state charges, click here.
Following their arrests, the federal defendants began to make their initial appearances Wedneday before United States Magistrate Judge Elizabeth M. Timothy. A trial date will be set in the near future.
Each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Ramsey and Wolfe, who face the additional charge of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, face up to life in prison
upon conviction.
This case results from a long-term investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.
Alabama’s Gov. Issued Moratorium On Landfill Permits
February 24, 2011
Alabama’s governor signed a moratorium on new landfills in the state Wednesday, potentially making it more difficult for a new 5,100 landfill to locate upstream from North Escambia.
Representatives from Citizens for a Clean Southwest Alabama praised the executive order as they fight an application for the mega-landfill Conecuh Woods planned for near Repton, Alabama.
But a spokesperson for Conecuh Woods did not agree, saying that Bentley’s order does not impact their application before the Conecuh County Commission.
“The rural areas of Alabama are prime targets for the location of landfills and other solid waste management facilities to collect and manage volumes of solid waste in excess of that generated by their locales and regions, including solid waste from out of state,” Bentley’s order stated.
His order specified that even if a landfill is subject to local approval, it must also be approved by the state before a permit is issued. But until guidelines are created, no large landfills can be approved. Large landfills are described as those accepting more than 1,500 tons of waste per day or greater than 500 acres in size.
Many governments in South Alabama and Northwest Florida have spoken out in opposition to Conecuh Woods, including Escambia counties in Alabama and Florida, the Town of Century, Atmore and Flomaton.
Conecuh Woods’ landfill, would include a 1,600 acre “disposal cell” from Range to Repton to near the Big Escambia Creek. Big Escambia Creek flows southward into Escambia County, Alabama, through Flomaton and drains through a North Escambia swamp into the Escambia River and then Escambia Bay.
“Nobody knows more than we do that Florida’s rules on water quality are tougher than Alabama’s,” Century Mayor Freddie McCall said. “If it comes into our river, Florida is in trouble immediately.”
Pictured top: Repton, Alabama, Mayor Terri Carter addresses the Century Town Council Monday night in opposition to a proposed 5,100 acre landfill in Conecuh County, Alabama. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Local Women Arrested On Drug Charges
February 24, 2011
Two women are facing several drug charges in Escambia County, Ala., after authorities located drugs and cash at a home near Flomaton after a month-long investigation.
Jodie D. Adams, 18, of McDavid and Jody Simmons, 24, of Flomaton, were each charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond was set at $10,000 each. Simmons was also charged with violation of probation.
The 21st Judicial Drug Task Force, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Brewton Police Department executed a search warrant in the 2000 block of Wolflog Road. Authorities said they located marijuana, cash, drug paraphernalia and prescription medications during the search.