Family Fights Parole To Keep Murderers Behind Bars
April 30, 2011
Several North Escambia residents are hoping to help stop the parole of two Nokomis men behind bars for the 1993 murder of a woman and 12-year old girl.
Shannon Dean Barlow, 33, and Franklin Lee Barlow, Jr., 37, are both serving life sentences with the possibility of parole for the murders of Kathy Victor Hall Barlow and Angel Marie Hall.
On October 10, 1993, the Barlow brothers went out with Albert Ganoe “Rocky” Beasley, consuming alcohol and smoking marijuana. They then went to the home of Kathy Barlow in Perdido, Ala., shooting her in the head with a .410-gauge shotgun when she opened the door. According to testimony, he then went to the room of Angel Hall, 12, raped her and shot her in the face.
Shannon Barlow was sentenced to three consecutive life terms, and Franklin Barlow was sentenced to two life sentences. Both are now eligible for parole from the Limestone Correction Facility in Alabama. Beasley remains behind bars, sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
The Barlows will have a parole hearing Tuesday.
“Our family does not want them on the streets,” a family member wrote on a Facebook page protesting the paroles. “Our family lost two of our precious family members whom we miss dearly to this day.”
Editor’s note: In an earlier version of this story, the family asked readers to send an email expressing opposition to the parole. The time limit for sending the email has now passed.
Pictured: This undated photograph shows murder victims Kathy Barlow and 12-year old Angel Hall. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Deputies Search For Clues After Attempted Home Invasion At Deputy’s House
April 30, 2011
An early morning manhunt turned up empty along the Alabama/Florida state line after an attempted home invasion at the residence of a law enforcement officer.
The wife of an Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Department deputy was at home with a toddler while her husband was at work when someone tried to enter their home in the 500 block of Pineville Road in Nokomis, Ala., just a few hundred yards north of the Alabama/Florida state line. There were no injuries in the incident just after 4 a.m.
She was able to describe the suspect only as a tall, slender, possibly white male wearing dark clothing. She was unable to provide a more detailed description. Law enforcement officers from Alabama and Florida surrounded the area, and a K-9 unit attempted to track the suspect. The search was called off just before 7 a.m.
Anyone in the area with information on the suspect or that sees anything suspicious is asked to call tje Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Department at (251) 368-4779 or (251) 867-0304, or call their local law enforcement agency.
This was the second manhunt for a home invasion suspect in that area in less than a month. In early April, deputies from the Escambia County (Ala) Sheriff’s Office responded to a burglary in progress call in the 600 block of Pineville Road in Nokomis, Alabama, just yards from Saturday morning’s incident. A woman told deputies she returned to her home to find a burglar inside. The suspect fled through the front door of the home as the woman entered from the rear. A manhunt for that suspect, described only as a while male, turned up empty.
Pictured top: A K-9 Unit from Fountain Correctional Facility took part in a early morning manhunt in Nokomis. Pictured inset: Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s investigators dust for fingerprints on the backdoor of the deputy’s home. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Prescription Drug Round-Up Today
April 30, 2011
A “Prescription Drug Round-Up” will be held today at locations across the county, including Century and Cantonment. It’s a a one-day effort between local and federal law enforcement to provide the pubic a site to voluntarily surrender expired, unwanted, unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications for destruction.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority and Walgreens, in coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will appear at six local Walgreens Drug Stores, and four ECSO precinct locations, Saturday, April 30, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Prescription Drug Round-Up locations will be:
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office
- Precinct 1, Pensacola Beach, 43 Fort Pickens Road Pensacola Beach
- Precinct 2, Big Lagoon 12950 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola
- Precinct 5, Cantonment 5844 North Hwy 29 Molino, Florida
- Precinct 6, Century 7500 North Century Blvd. Century, Florida
Walgreens Locations:
- 20 West Nine Mile Rd
- 2237 West Nine Mile Rd
- 4497 Mobile Hwy
- 5995 Mobile Hwy
- 870 E Cervantes
- 6314 North 9th Ave
Girl, 7, Drowns While Swimming With Friends
April 30, 2011
The Escambia County Sheriff’s dive team located the body of a 7-year-old female in Bayou Grande near Fairfield Drive Friday afternoon. The victim drowned while swimming with friends, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The body was discovered shortly after 4 p.m. in the area where witnesses said she was last seen.
At around 1 p.m., the victim and two other friends were swimming in the bayou near a beach located at the dead end of South Fairfield Drive.
“The group was caught in tidal currents,” said sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Chris Welborn. “An 18-year-old male, who was watching the other two, heroically pulled one to safety but was unable to save the other.”
The victim was swept away and drowned in an area approximately fifty yards away from shore, where her body was later located.
The Sheriff’s Office was notified of the drowning at 1:04 p.m. and responded along with Escambia County Fire and EMS, Escambia Search and Rescue, Florida Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Office of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Coast Guard.
The Sheriff’s Office will not release the victim’s identity until all of her family has been notified.
Jay Girls Set Record At State Track Meet
April 30, 2011
The Jay High School girls track team placed tenth in the 4×800 relay Friday in Winter Park.
Their time of 10:03:55 was a new school record, breaking the record of 10:12:00 set by the team a few weeks ago. Split times were Jessica Thornton 2:35, Caristyn Golden 2:32, Leely Trevino 2:28, and Robin Blackman 2:26. The split times were personal records for each of the girls.
Pictured: The Lady Royals’ 4×800 relay team Caristyn Golden, Robin Blackman, Leely Trevino and Jessica Thornton. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pen Air FCU Aids In Tornado Relief Effort
April 30, 2011
In response to the recent and devastating events that shook Alabama and other surrounding states, Pen Air federal Credit Union will be donating supplies to areas in Alabama that are in need.
Pen Air FCU President and CEO Ron Fields will be personally driving the first round of supplies collected – 1,200 bottles of water and 100 packs of baby wipes – to the areas affected this weekend. These are the primary supplies requested by rescue workers. All Pen Air FCU locations including Century will collect donations for the tornado relief efforts, as well as become drop-off points for additional supplies, through the coming weeks.
In addition, Pen Air FCU is lending one of its two Mobile Service Centers for use in the Rainsville, Ala., area, so local residents will have access to funds.
“Pen Air is just trying to help out those who need it during this terrible time,” Fields said. “The spirit of Pen Air’s members and employees has always been one of community and this is no exception.”
Sunny Weekend
April 30, 2011
A sunny Saturday is in store for the North Escambia area on Saturday. There’s a red flag warning in effect — so no outdoor burning.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 85. South wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. South wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. Southwest wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. West wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 49.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 79.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 52.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 81.
Newspapers Compile List Of Alabama Tornado Casualties
April 30, 2011
The Birmingham News and Huntsville Times have complied an unofficial list of the dead and missing from Alabama’s tornadoes.
The unofficial and incomplete list was complied by newspaper reporters from media reports from across the state.
To view the list, click here.
Relay For Life Event Today
April 30, 2011
The annual Atmore Relay for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society begins this afternoon.
Opening ceremonies will be at 3 p.m. at Tom Byrne Park on Lindberg Avenue and will continue until midnight. The survivor’s lap will follow the opening ceremonies, a karaoke contest will be held at 4:30, and dance competitions will begin at 5:45 p.m.
At 9 p.m., a luminaria ceremony will remember those that have lost the fight against cancer while honoring survivors. A celebration ceremony will follow at 10 p.m.
Teams scheduled to participate in the Atmore Relay for Life include Atmore Community Hospital, Atmore Family Medicine, Atmore First Assembly, Gulf Winds, Poarch Creek Indians, Run For Your Life Charlie Brown, United Bank, Walgreens, Winn Dixie and Your Family Insurance.
Two other North Escambia area Relay for Life events are coming up in two weeks — the Relay for Life of Greater Escambia and the Century Relay for Life will both be held on May 13.
Pictured top: Last year’s Atmore Relay for Life was moved indoors by rain. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Help Tornado Victims Today: Flomaton, Atmore, Molino, Davisville
April 30, 2011
Residents across the North Escambia area are stepping forward to help the Alabama tornado victims.
The Flomaton Fire Department will be collecting items for tornado relief at their fire station Saturday (pictured top) until 2 p.m. Until Monday, items can be placed in the parking lot behind the trailer, next to the fire station. The items will be taken to a Red Cross distribution site.
Items needed include water, Gatorade, crackers, cookies, other non-perishable food items, wipes, batteries and battery powered items like flashlights and radios. Shoreline Transportation has donated a 53-foot enclosed trailer for the donations, and organizers hope to completely fill the trailer Saturday morning.
A donation box for the Flomaton Fire Department collection will also be available at McMillan Home Health in Brewton until 5 p.m. Friday.
Pepsi of Atmore is collecting non-perishable food items, beverages, supplies and even air mattresses (no clothing, please) at the corner of Highway 31 and Presley Street until 6 p.m. Saturday and from 1-6 p.m. Sunday. Pepsi of Atmore will then transport the items on one of their own trucks.
Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino is collecting cleaning supplies (liquid cleaners, bleach, mops, spray bottles, buckets, sponges, etc.); personal hygiene items (hand and shower soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, wash cloths, nail clippers, etc.); baby and adult diapers; and gift cards to Dollar General and WalMart. Items can be dropped off a the church on Highway 29 just north of Highway 97. They are not collecting food, bottle water or clothing.
Dry Spring Community Church will accept donations at the Davisville Community Center May 5, 2-7 p.m.; May 6, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; May 9, 8 a.m.-noon; May 10, 10 a.m.-7p.m. and May 11, 8 a.m.-noon. Non-perishable food items, yard tools, paper products, batteries, baby diapers and wipes, first aid supplies, cleaning supplies, personal hygiene items and blankets will be collected for the First Baptist Church of Amory, Miss. More info? (850) 712-6588 or (850) 982-8878.
The First Baptist Church of Bratt collected paper goods and batteries Thursday to be delivered to the hardest hit areas today by church members.
Other ways you can help include:
- The American Red Cross is providing relief to people across the hardest-hit states including Alabama. To make a donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief, visit its online donation page. You can also call 1-800-RED-CROSS or text “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
- The Salvation Army is setting up mobile feed stations to feed thousands in the storm areas. Give online at salvationarmy.com, text “GIVE” to 80888 or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY.
- Alabama Gov. Robert Bently has setup a website that provides donation information through his office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.
Pictured top: Items are collected for tornado relief Saturday morning at the Flomaton Fire Station. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.