Samuel Dudley Copeland
May 18, 2012
Samuel Dudley Copeland, age 82 of Santa Rosa County, died on May 17, 2012. He was a lifetime resident of Santa Rosa County and deacon of New Vision Baptist Church. He was retired from the US Army where he served in Vietnam and the Korean Conflict and was a recipient of two bronze stars. He was a lifetime member of the NRA. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Lucille Copeland; son, David Keith Copeland; sister, Jeanette Houston and brothers, Edward and Theodore (Ted) Copeland.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Wanda Copeland; daughter, Mary Copeland of Jay; sons, Sam (Susan) Copeland of Jay, Robert Copeland of Milton, Rick Copeland of Houston, TX, Danny (Dana) Copeland of Jay, and Caleb (Holly) Copeland of Jay; sister, Hortense (Horace) Sullivan and 11 grandchildren.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, May 19, 2012, from 4-6 p.m. at Jay Funeral Home. Services will begin at 6 p.m. with son, Caleb Copeland officiating services with full military honors.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Fire Departments Respond To Reported Hwy 97 House Fire
May 17, 2012
Fire stations from across the area responded to a reported structure fire in the 9000 block of Highway 97 just before 5:00 Thursday afternoon.
A resident reported an air conditioner fire that extinguished itself when the electrical power was disconnected. The first fire units on scene reported that the fire was out upon their arrival.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid, Century and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were dispatched to the incident.
No Serious In Injuries In Hwy 29, Hwy 97 Crash In Molino
May 17, 2012
There were no serious injuries in a two vehicle crash midday Thursday at Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 61-year old Shirley Peek of Pace pulled her 2006 Kia from the Tom Thumb parking lot into the path a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado pickup driven northbound on Highway 29 by 56-year old Erbie Pritchett of Century.
Both drivers refused medical treatment at the scene.
Peek was cited for violation of right of way, according to FHP.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Blood Drive This Afternoon At Century Town Hall
May 17, 2012
Area residents will have the opportunity to give the gift of life at a blood drive this afternoon in Century.
The Bloodmobile will be at the Century Town Hall from 3-7 p.m. today.
Pictured above: The Bloodmobile will be open until 7 p.m. at the Century Town Hall. NorthEscambia.com file photo click to enlarge.
Teen Sentenced For Sexual Assault Of Young Boy
May 17, 2012
The Century teen accused of sexually abusing a 6-year old boy has been sentenced to two years behind bars.
Michael Alexander Dubose of West Highway 4, was charged with two felony counts of sexual battery on a victim under 12 and fondling a child under 12. The sexual battery charges were dropped, and Dubose was convicted on the fondling charge.
Now 18, Dubose was 17-years old when he was arrested after a male victim told investigators at the Gulf Coast Kids House that Dubose had sexual relations with him over a one year period at two different units at Century Woods Apartments. He was later transferred from the Department of Juvenile Justice to adult court.
Dubose was sentenced as a youthful offender to two years in state youthful offender/sexual offender facility, with credit for 301 days served, to be followed by four years probation. He is currently set for release on July 4, 2013, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
He was also ordered to complete sexual offender counseling while in custody and follow up with a sex offender evaluation and recommended treatment upon release.
After his arrest, Dubose himself became the victim of alleged physical abuse by his mother and the mother of the victim. Juliette Dubose was accused of “whipping” Michael Alexander Dubose with an extension cord after learning that he allegedly had sexual relations with her son. After the beating, Juliette Dubose instructed the mother of Michael Dubose, Kassedra Dubose, to also beat him with the extension cord, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
Both women pleaded to no contest to charges of cruelty toward a child. They entered into a pretrial diversion program under which charges will be dropped if they successfully complete the one year program.
Slight Rain Chances, Warm And Sunny
May 17, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 60s. North winds around 5 mph.
- Friday: A Mostly sunny. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs around 90. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the lower 60s. East winds around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 80s. East winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 60s. Southeast winds around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
- Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. East wind between 10 and 15 mph.
- Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Century Correctional Sergeant Named Statewide Employee Of Year
May 17, 2012
A Century Correctional Institution employee has been selected as the Florida Department of Correction’s statewide Institutions Employee of the Year.
Sgt. Charles Gilliard has been employed at Century Correctional Institution for over 19 years. During his employment he has been a Work Squad officer, Work Squad sergeant, Classification officer and training officer. He has also served on special squads such as the Shotgun Squad, Baton Squad, and team leader for the Crisis Negotiation Team.
When the Department of Corrections increased focus on reentry for offenders about five years ago, Gilliard picked up the initiative and run with it, according to the DOC.
Since then he has served as Century CI’s Reentry Coordinator and the driving force for the success of the program. When the responsibilities and requirements of the reentry program began to take away from his duties as a classification officer he took a demotion back to correctional officer sergeant to better assist the agency while not losing any ground in his reentry efforts.
During this time he has developed relationships with numerous outside agencies that have helped facilitate reentry programs for Century CI, including the University of West Florida, Lakeview Center, Department of Children and Families, Community Drug & Alcohol Counsel, Escambia County School District, Escambia Human Relations Commission, Pathways for Change, and others who have contributed to Century’s reentry program success.
Gilliard has also developed relationships that helped to establish the availability of the “Operation FreshStart.” reentry assistance center for the Florida Department of Corrections where inmates being released into Escambia County can go for assistance.
With there being no formal budget established at the institutional level for reentry, Gilliard’s accomplishments are more than noteworthy, according to the DOC.
He has also worked with several community Task Force committees to help them understand departmental procedures so their agencies will be better equipped to assist inmates upon release, and better able to help them reintegrate into family and community.
As a result of Gilliard’s efforts, Century was the first corrections institution in the state to be recognized with the Secretary’s Blue Ribbon Award for Excellence in reentry, and the first institution to be awarded the FCCD award for reentry.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Spring Football: Northview Tonight; Tate, Flomaton, Jay Friday PM
May 17, 2012
The Northview Spring Game will be tonight at 7:00 as the Chiefs host the Jaguars of West Florida High School. General admission is $6.
Tate High School will hold a Crimson and Gray intersqaud game at home Friday at 6:30 p.m. Tate will travel to Washington High for Spring Game on May 28 at 7 p.m.
The annual Jay High Blue and White game will be at 6 p.m. Friday.
The Flomaton Hurricanes will play Georgiana in a Spring Game Friday night at 7:00. Admission is $5.
Recognize This Backpack Or Jewelry? Sheriff’s Office Looking For Owner
May 17, 2012
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in identifying the owner of property they believe was stolen from the North Escambia area.
Investigators recovered the items — a “Cowboys” backpack and jewelry — during a recent investigation, according to Deputy Matt Baxter, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office.
“We are attempting to identify the owner of the property so we can find where it was taken from,” Baxter said.
Anyone that recognizes any of the items pictured is asked to contact Investigator Zack Ward at (850) 436-9653 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for the owner of these items believed to have been stolen from the North Escambia area. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mamie L. Morris
May 17, 2012
Mamie L. Morris – our precious and loving mother/grandmother passed into her eternal resting place on May 14, 2012.
Mrs. Morris was born on January 31, 1918. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband (Corbon), daughter (Yvonnia) and grandson (Ricky).
She is survived by two sons, Raymond Morris, Harold (Barbara) Morris; daughter Gladys (Steve) Rowell all of Munson; eightwonderful grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, May 17, at Jay Funeral Home with Bro. Duke Barrow officiating. Burial will follow at Valley Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Jay Funeral Home. Active pallbearers will be Kenneth Baxley, Stewart Baxley, Phil Cohron, Allen Qualls, Westel Cabaniss, and Gary Cabaniss
Honorary pallbearers will be Malcolm Reed, James Crain and James Simmons.
The family would like to think the front hall nurses, therapists and staff at Santa Rosa Health and Rehab and Santa Rosa Medical Center for the excellent care they provided for our precious mother.