Consuela Michelle Mitchell
July 22, 2011
Consuela Michelle Mitchell, 44, of Flomaton, Ala., died Sunday, July 17, 2011.
Visitation will be held from 4-6 p.m. at Jackson-McMurray Funeral Services in Century. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Bethel AFM Church of God in Century.
Donnie Stallworth Found Guilty Of Billings Murders
July 21, 2011
Donnie Stallworth was found guilty Thursday afternoon of two counts of first degree murder for the 2009 deaths of Byrd and Melanie Billings.
It was the third trial for the former Air Force staff sergeant and Brewton native. His first trial ended when the judge declared a mistrial after a jury could not decide his fate during nine hours of deliberations. His second trial came to an end in late April when the jury announced they were deadlocked after two days of deliberations.
Stallworth was accused of being in the home at time of the murders, armed with a gun. The accusations came from two co-defendants, 16-year old Rakeem Florence and 21-year old Fredrick Thorton. Both pleaded not contest to a lessor second degree murder charge in exchange for their testimony.
This time, the case was prosecuted by both Assistant State Attorney John Molchan and State Attorney Bill Eddins.
Molino Couple In Court In Alleged Cancer Scam Case
July 21, 2011
The Molino couple accused of faking her cancer diagnosis to scam people out of thousands of dollars were back in court Wednesday morning.
Both Chris and Sonja Luker appeared before Judge Joel Boles for a docket hearing before their scheduled trial date of August 1. But Boles granted a postponement request by Sonja Luker’s attorney, and the state requested that Chris Luker’s trial date also be delayed to coincide. Both Lukers will be back in court for a docket hearing on September 14, and their jury trial was reset for September 29.
Felony grand theft charges were dropped against the couple back in May, but they both still face felony fraud charges in the alleged scheme.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, numerous fundraisers were held between May 2004 and October 2010 that raised over $19,000. Evidence shows that about $14,000 was used in 2009 to avoid foreclosure on their home in the 4700 block of Pine Circle Drive and about $4,000 in cash was used by Chris Luker to purchase a 1997 Harley motorcycle.
The Sheriff’s Office investigation found that Chris and Sonja Luker personally received money from friends, family, church members and co-workers under a “scheme” that Sonja Luker was being treated for cancer. Investigators believe both Chris and Sonja Luker are guilty of fraud in the scheme; witnesses said the couple was observed together at fundraisers talking about her cancer treatments.
They have each pleaded not guilty to the charge against them.
Pictured above: Sonja and Chris Luker (in black shirts) are seen in a 2009 NorthEscambia.com photo from a motorcycle ride fundraiser that benefited her alleged fight against cancer. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Men Accused Of Stealing, Selling Thousands Of Pounds Of Metals
July 21, 2011
Two men are accused of stealing thousands of pounds of items — including 3,200 pounds of steel — from two barns in Nokomis and then selling the goods to a recycling center in Alabama.
Theodius Johnson, 25, and Ricardo Gilpatric Fisher, 47, allegedly stole thousands of dollars worth of farm equipment from two barns on North Pineville Road near the Alabama state line.
The victim told deputies that he and his wife noticed a vehicle that did not belong at one of their barns and blocked in the vehicle. That’s when they spotted Johnson walking away from a nearby home; The man and wife “detained” Johnson, according an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report.
The victim said that numerous items were missing from two barns — including fertilizer hoppers, a diesel tank, and numerous other tractor parts and farm equipment.
Johnson told deputies that he and Fischer, his cousin, had taken items from the two barns over a two week period and sold the items at a scrapyard between Flomaton and Brewton.
Fischer and Johnson both admitted to deputies, according to their report, that they had pawned the items on four different occasions at Advance Environmental Recycling in Flomaton. Fischer’s name appeared on three scale tickets from the business, while Johnson’s name appeared on one, the report states.
Johnson was arrested and charged with burglary of an unoccupied structure and grand theft. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on $10,000 bond.
Fischer was already in the Escambia County (Ala.) Detention Center in Brewton on a first degree theft charge when he was questioned by Florida authorities. He remained in the Brewton jail as of Tuesday afternoon; a warrant has been issued for his arrest in Florida once he is released.
Fun News: A Real ‘Loopy’ Story
July 21, 2011
A little good news to report today — Loopy the parrot is back home thanks to a few good folks, our online paper and Facebook.
Loopy was happily enjoying life on a screened back porch in the Bratt area, near Pine Barren Road and the Alabama/Florida line, late last week. But when the mailman decided to put a package on the porch to avoid it getting it wet in an impending storm, Loopy decided to take a road trip out the screen door.
Darlene Thompson and her daughter, Kate Sells, frantically searched for Loopy, a 7-year old double yellow-headed green Amazon parrot. Darlene walked through the woods calling Loopy to no avail. When they returned home, Darlene emailed NorthEscambia.com, placing a free “lost and found” ad on the website.
Fast forward to Tuesday night. That’s when Loopy made his way into the Moore family’s barn on Highway 168 — about a mile from where he fled the porch last week. The Moores immediately tossed a towel onto the wayward bird and captured him, snapped a few photos and contacted NorthEscambia.com on Facebook with information about their find. They also called Darlene and made arrangements for Loopy’s little vacation to come to an end and returned him home safe and sound.
“Your classifieds really work,” Darlene told us. She also said that the family is looking into banding Loopy with their phone number, or, since he talks, teaching him his phone number in case of another flyaway.
And, Darlene said, she’s glad to know that there are good people in the world like the Moores.
“They were such nice people. They wouldn’t even take the reward we offered,” she said.
As for Loopy, he had no comment on this story.
- To visit the NorthEscambia.com “Free Classifieds” page and place an ad, click here. To become a NorthEscambia.com Facebook fan, click here. To become a personal Facebook friend of William, our publisher, click here.
Pictured: Loopy the parrot shortly after his “capture” on Highway 168 near Bratt. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Care’s Hildreth Elected VP Of State Group
July 21, 2011
Mae Sanders Hildreth, director of activities at Century Care Center, has been elected vice president of the Florida Health Care Activity Coordinators Association (FHCA) District XII.
“It has always been my dream to work in activities in a nursing home,” Hildreth said, adding that her mom worked as a nurse until she was 81, with her latter years spent working in a nursing home. “I was raised in it.”
“I strive to do my best to add quality of life for our seniors,” she said.
Pictured above: Mae Hildreth, dressed for the occasion, makes non-alcoholic tropical drinks for residents at Century Care Center during a planned Jamaican Party. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Schools To Receive $363K From BP
July 21, 2011
The Escambia County School District will receive $363,282 for lost revenues in a settlement with BP.
The settlement is a reimbursement for one-half cent local option sales tax funds the district lost during a four month period as a result of the BP oil spill. The money will be used in a capital reserve fund for school construction projects.
The Escambia School Board voted unanimously to accept the settlement.
Century Applying For Grants To Help Homeowners, Business Planning
July 21, 2011
Century is applying for two grants — one to improve housing for low income residents and the other to develop an economic plan for the town.
In Century, about 24 percent of all residents are below the poverty level with a per capita income of $14,629, according to the town, and almost half of all homes are classified as substandard. The town is applying for a USDA Rural Development housing preservation grant to assist some of those very-low and low-income homeowners in repairing or rehabilitating their homes. The funds, if approved, will be in addition to a current Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program.
The town also plans to create an economic development strategy plan if awarded a USDA Rural Business Opportunity Grant. The grant would be used to train and provide technical assistance for business development.
Deputy Charged After 5-Vehicle Wreck
July 21, 2011
An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy was charged with careless driving after a wreck involving five vehicles Wednesday night.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Deputy Justin Duval, 25, was traveling west on Gulf Beach Highway in a marked Sheriff’s Office vehicle when he rear-ended a 1998 Buick driven by 32-year old Kendra Tanner of Pensacola. The force of the collision sent Tanner’s vehicle into three properly parked vehicles in a nearby parking lot.
Tanner was transported to West Florida Hospital with minor injuries. A 13-year old passenger in her vehicle was not injured.
Duval was charged with careless driving by the FHP, while Tanner was charged with driving with a suspended license.
Two Arrested In Drug Raid
July 21, 2011
Two people were arrested on drug charges after a search warrant was executed near Flomaton.
Jesse Simmons, age 26 of Century, and David Lane Mullally, age 34 of Flomaton, were both charged with unlawful possession of marijuana in the first degree.
Authorities reportedly found marijuana inside a residence in the 2200 block of Wolf Log Road when a search warrant was executed by member of the 21 Judicial Task Force. Authorities also located what they believed to be salvia in the raid; it was outlawed in Alabama in 2010.