Santa Rosa Names Farm Family Of The Year
July 22, 2011
The Edwards family of Jay has been named the Santa Rosa County Farm Family of the Year.
Alan Edwards, his wife Michele, and daughters Shelby, 12, Madison 9, and Brianna, 5, received the honor during the 45th Annual Santa Rosa County Farm Tour Thursday.
Over 200 people took part in the farm tour with visits to Emerald Coast Growers, WFREC Jay Research Farm, the Edwards Farm, Hendrick & Sons Ranch in Allentown and Holland Farms.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Edwards family was honored for their contributions to agriculture. Alan Edwards, a fifth-generation farmer, has about 750 acres near Jay, where he farms cotton, soybeans, peanuts, wheat and hay in addition to raising cattle. He has served on the board of directors of the Santa Rosa County Farm Bureau for 23 years and has served as vice president for the last six years. He also serves on numerous state and national boards, including the USDA Cotton Board, the Florida Peanut Producers Association, Florida Farm Bureau Cotton Advisory Board and the West Florida Research and Education Center Advisory Committee.
Michele also works away from the family farm; she is a staff assistant at the Century Correctional Institution.
Pictured above: The Santa Rosa County Farm Family of the Year (L-R) Madison, Michele, Brianna, Alan and Shelby Edwards. Pictured below: Participants on the annual Santa Rosa County Farm Tour Thursday. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fire Destroys Storage Shed
July 22, 2011
Fire destroyed a storage shed in the Cottage Hill community late Thursday night.
The fire was reported just before midnight. The first firefighters on scene reported that the 10 x 12 foot shed on Eastman Lane was fully involved. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
There were no injuries reported.
The Cantonment, Molino, McDavid, Beulah and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were dispatched to the blaze.
William Yancey Jernigan IV
July 22, 2011
William Yancey Jernigan IV, 43, died Wednesday, July 20, 2011.
He was born in Century on December 8, 1967 and lived most of his life in Brewton. He was a graduate of T.R. Miller High School and Auburn University. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents, Emily Wood and William Yancey Jernigan III.
He is survived by his wife, Emmie Pilcher Jernigan; three sons, Yancey Jernigan, V, Lyon Alexander Jernigan and Joseph Blake Jernigan; three sisters, Ruth Jernigan Parker of Brewton, Martha Jernigan Scott of Lanett, Alabama and Elizabeth Jernigan Rodgers of Auburn, Alabama.
The family will receive friends Friday afternoon July 22, 2011, from 1 until 3:00 p.m. at the Brewton First United Methodist Church.Private interment will be in Union Cemetery Brewton with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Brewton directing.
Memorials may be made to the Yancey Jernigan Foundation, P.O. Box 37, Brewton, AL 36427. The Foundation will provide financial and emotional support to families fighting cancer in Escambia County, Alabama. It will strive to educate the public and provide resources to accelerate progress in the fight against cancer.
Yancey’s legacy of love and laughter will continue even though the cancer battle rages on with others. Memorials may also be made to the First United Methodist Church in Brewton.
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.