Four Escambia Residents Sentenced On Federal Drug Charges
June 18, 2012
Four Escambia County residents have been sentenced for their part in a federal drug conspiracy that was transporting large amounts of cocaine and marijuana into the Escambia County area.
Marquis Marchello Hopkins, age 31 of Cantonment, received five years probation based on the court’s determination that he was a minor participant in the overall conspiracy, that he immediately admitted guilt and that he cooperated with law enforcement.
Three other Escambia County residents received federal prison time.
Labarren D. Fields, age 34 of Pensacola, received a sentence of 200 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Jamil Demario Tenon, age 28 of Pensacola, received a sentence of 140 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Eldon Turmaine Abram, age 28 of Pensacola, received a sentence of 24 months in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to court documents, federal authorities identified a sizable cocaine and marijuana trafficking operation, with supply sources in both Texas and Georgia, transporting kilograms of cocaine and large amounts of marijuana into the Pensacola area for distribution. The ongoing investigation involved multiple states and federal agents in the Pensacola area coordinated closely with federal agents in Texas and Georgia.
Other indictments are pending in the operation, authorities said.
Myrtle Lee Diamond
June 18, 2012
Myrtle Lee Diamond, age 80 of McDavid, went home to be with her Heavenly Father on Sunday, June 17, 2012. She was born in Jay on December 20, 1931.
She was a homemaker and helped her husband D.C. run the family store. She was a member of Grace Baptist Church in McDavid. Myrtle Lee was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and great-grandmother to all of those who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her father Perry L. Kelley and mother Bessie L. Kelley; her sisters, Mary Bovia and Shirley Tidwell; her brothers, Wayne Kelley and Houston Kelley; and great-granddaughter Meagan Hinote.
She is survived by her husband and soulmate of 63½ years, David C. Diamond; three daughters Marie (Jerry) Gibson, Sherrie (Ron) Jones, Cindy Diamond and special adopted daughter Sheila Ashcraft; five grandchildren, Michelle (Randy) Hinote, Jammie (April) Gibson, Brandon (Amy) Scott, Nick (Robin) Jones, and Ashley Jones; 11 great-grandchildren, Gavin Hinote, Hunter Scott, Dakota Rivers, Austin Scott, Bailee Hinote, Wylder Gibson, Tara Jones, and Brant, Griffin, Cole, and Bethany Hyatt; and her precious dog Pepper and Blacky the cat. She is also survived by three sisters and four brothers; James (Jean) Kelley, Buck (Glenda) Kelley, Tink (Annie Ruth) Kelley, Jerry (Walterene) Kelley, Polly (Frank) Whitfield, Ann (Ben) West, and Joan (Jeff) Struebing.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, June 19, 2012, from 6-9 p.m. at Jay Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 20, 2012, at 11 a.m. at Cora Baptist Church in Jay with Bro. Oglesbee and Bro. Hall officiating services. Burial will follow at Cora Baptist Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be her grandsons, Jammie Gibson, Brandon Scott, Nick Jones, Hunter Scott, Gavin Hinote and Randy Hinote. Honorary pallbearers will be her loving nephews.
The family wishes to thank Sacred Heart Hospital doctors and staff, and Joyce Goldenberg Covanant Hospice staff for all of their tender loving care….words cannot express our feelings. Also Life Care Rehab Center, Bro. Oglesbe of Grace Baptist Church, Bro. Hall of Cora Baptist Church, and many numerous friends and families for all of their prayers, visits, phone calls, and food during our time of need. A very special thanks to Nancy Rueb for her daily visits and providing food to the family.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
NWE, Atmore Come Up Short In Tourney
June 18, 2012
Both Atmore and Northwest Escambia came up short Sunday in the 2012 9-10U All Star District Tournament in Evergreen, AL.
Scores from Sunday were:
Andalusia 11, Atmore 10
Brewton 13, Northwest Escambia 1
Pictured: Action as Northwest Escambia faced Opp Saturday afternoon in Evergreen, AL, in the 2012 All Star District Tournament. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Margie Loree Brittingham Evans
June 18, 2012
Mrs. Margie Loree Brittingham Evans age 77, passed away Monday, June 18, 2012, in an Atmore nursing facility after an extended illness.
Mrs. Evans was born in Conecuh County, AL and had been a life long resident of Escambia County (AL). She worked as a production line operator at Georgia Pacific for a number of years. She was of the Holiness faith.
Mrs. Evans was preceded in death by her husband, Mr. McArthur Evans.
She is survived by one brother, Cecil Brittingham of Brewton; one sister, Pauline Strength of Brewton; one step-son, Douglas Evans of Brewton, two step-daughters, Gloria Green of Flomaton, and Maxine Evans of Brewton; and a number nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 20, 2012, at 2 p.m. from the chapel of Craver’s Funeral Home with Rev. Matthew Brittingham officiating. Interment will follow in Pineview Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at Craver’s Funeral Home on Wednesday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Mobile Baybears Beat Pensacola Blue Wahoos 10-0
June 18, 2012
Five Mobile pitchers combined to yield just three hits to Pensacola, while all but one of the eight position players in the lineup recorded a hit in the BayBears’ 10-0 win over the Blue Wahoos in front of another sellout crowd of 5,038 on Sunday afternoon at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Despite the loss, the Fish had already clinched a series win with their 6-0 no-hit win on Saturday evening, topping Mobile 3-2 in the five-game series. The defeat dropped Pensacola’s record in 2012 to 34-35, while the victory moved the BayBears’ mark to 40-30 to end the first half of the season. The capacity crowd was the 23rd of the season to take in a game at the bayfront stadium.
Four Mobile hitters, including C Rossmel Perez (3-5, 1 R, 2 2B, 1 RBI), CF Evan Frey (2-3, 2 R, 2 BB), LF Marc Krauss (2-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB) and SS Wladimir Sutil (2-4, 1 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB) all recorded multi-hit efforts for the BayBears, with seven of the first eight hitters in the lineup collecting a base knock.
Mobile started the scoring in the second thanks to Sutil’s RBI double, while the BayBears then sent in a total of seven runs over the next three frames. Krauss drove home a run in the third with an RBI single and then took advantage of a Blue Wahoos fielding miscue to bring home an additional run.
Sutil then tallied his second RBI double in as many at bats in the fourth before Mobile took advantage of a Pensacola error for their second score of the frame. The BayBears then brought across three more in the subsequent inning thanks in part to run-scoring two-baggers by RF Alfredo Marte and Perez to make it 8-0. Mobile then sent in two more insurance runs in the eighth with a two-run shot by 2B David Nick, his second of the year.
Five BayBears pitchers, including starter Chase Anderson (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 SO), along with relievers Derek Eitel (4.0 IP, 3 SO), Eury De La Rosa (1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 SO), Matt Gorgen (1.0 IP, 2 SO) and Kevin Munson (1.0 IP), combined to give up just three Blue Wahoos hits, as well as no walks. Eitel earned the victory to improve to 6-4 this season while Pensacola starter Kyle Lotzkar (4.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 3-2 on the year.
With the first half concluded, five Blue Wahoos players will head to Kodak, Tennessee, for the 2012 Southern League All-Star Game, with starting pitchers Daniel Corcino and J.C. Sulbaran, along with infielder Didi Gregorius and outfielders Ryan LaMarre and Josh Fellhauer to be honored on June 19 at Smokies Park. LaMarre is scheduled to start at center field and leadoff for the South Division, while Gregorius is slated to hit ninth and play shortstop.
Pensacola will travel to Chattanooga to begin the second half, while the next homestand begins on Tuesday June 26, with a five-game series scheduled with the Jackson Generals.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: Drew Hayes fired 1.2 perfect innings in relief in the Wahoos’ 10-0 loss Sunday. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
William F. (Bill) Courtney Sr.
June 18, 2012
William F. (Bill) Courtney Sr. was welcomed into his Heavenly Father’s arms on June,15, 2012. Bill was born July 18, 1948, in Pelzer, SC, but had lived most of his life in Pensacola. He was a member of the Ensley Volunteer Fire Department and served his community for over 14 years, as was his father many years before. Bill had also been a member of Gonzalez Baptist Church along with his sister and mother.
Bill is survived by the love of his life, soul mate, and best friend, Vivian Hoffert; his children, William F. Courtney Jr., and daughter-in-law, Carla; Sue Prosser, and Brian Shaw; his grandchildren, Jonathan Courtney and his wife Kyndal Courtney, Ryan Courtney, Sean Harris, Lindsay Prosser, Lanny Prosser, Heather Shaw and Lauren Shaw; one great-granddaughter, Gracie; his sister and brother-in-law, Peggy and Hubert Howard; two nephews; two nieces; two great-nephews and one great-niece; and his best buddies, “Angel” and “Scooter”.
Funeral services will be at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 19, 2012, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North at 1000 Highway 29 South.
Visitation will be on Tuesday, June 19, 2012, from 5 – 6 p.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North.
Father’s Day Forecast
June 17, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast for the remainder of Father’s Day:
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Sunny through mid morning, then becoming partly sunny, with a high near 91. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 91. East wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. East wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Friday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Saturday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Saturday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Sunday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 94. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
No Serious Injuries When Car Lands On Man’s Neck
June 17, 2012
There were no serious injuries when a car reportedly fell on or rolled over a man in Walnut Hill Saturday night.
The incident happened just after 7 p.m. in the 5000 block of Arthur Brown Road, just off Highway 97. The car reportedly came to rest on the man’s neck, but individuals with him removed the car off of the victim before first responders arrived. The men were reportedly working on the car and trying to get it started.
The man was transported by ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Further details were not available.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Atmore Ambulance responded to the call.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Send Off For Guard Unit Headed For Afghanistan
June 17, 2012
An Army National Guard Unit with members from across the Florida Panhandle is being deployed to Afghanistan.
The 870th Engineer Company of Crestview held a deployment ceremony Saturday, with crowds gathering to say goodbye to over 90 of their loved ones. The unit’s primary mission will be to seek out roadside bombs.
“Our whole mission is going to be route clearance. We go out there and find the IED’s and we clear the roads so all the other missions can operate on the roads,” said Jeff Loken, one of those being deployed.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The company headed toward Fort Bliss, TX, in a send-off parade Saturday night for training before they leave for Afghanistan.
Pictured: The 870th Engineer Company held a deployment ceremony Saturday in Crestview as they prepare to leave to Afghanistan. NorthEscambia.com photos by Annie Wiedel, click to enlarge.
Dear Dad: Father’s Day Wishes
June 17, 2012
For Father’s Day, NorthEscambia.com invited our readers to submit stories about their fathers. We’ve randomly selected a few and included them below.
If you would like to tell your father’s story, or just wish dad a (late) Happy Father’s Day, please do so in the comments section at the bottom of the page.
Earl Hilburn
submitted by Katie Hilburn
My daddy’s name is Earl Hilburn, and he is from the Molino community. If you ever heard the song “Because You Loved Me” it describes my dad in every way. My dad has always been there for us no matter what. He’s always lifted us up when we were down, and told us we could do anything we set our minds to do. He has always taught us right from wrong. He taught all of us to respect elders, and always stand up for what we believe in. M
y dad is a very hard worker; he’s a truck driver and has been since he was 18 yrs old. If you knew my daddy, you know he’s a good man, and a man who would give the shirt right off his back for you. I’ve watched people hurt, and mistreat my dad, but he has always turned the other cheek. There’s not a lot of men like my daddy,
I’ve watched that man do whatever he had to do to provide for his family, rather it be driving days without sleep or going 2-3 weeks without seeing his family. My dad has eight children,and six grandkids.
I could go on forever about my daddy, but if you listen to the song, it truly does describe my dad and how wonderful he is. God has blessed us with an amazing dad with a huge heart!
Dale Findley
submitted by Katie Findley
My father is the epitome of what a Dad should be. His name is Dale Findley, and I have been blessed because he showed me how to be a successful adult by being a hard worker and finishing something.
He has been married to my mom for almost 49 years and gave me and my three siblings a great example of how to make marriage and family work.
He is a grandfather to four and he shows them everyday what a blessing life is and how merciful God is to us all. I love him so much today and always, and thank God that he gave me to him.
I know he has made God Proud!
Melvin Turner
submitted by Kim Turner Gafford.
My daddy’s name is Melvin Turner but didn’t know this until I was probably eight or nine years old. Everybody calls him Cowboy. When I was growing up, my house was the place to be. And it was all because of my daddy. All of my cousins and neighborhood kids loved to play at our house. One and all were welcome.
Daddy always had time to play a game of h-o-r-s-e in basketball, a game of baseball or football in the front yard. He never minded loading up a truckload of kids and taking them to the creek. I don’t even know how many kids he taught to swim.
Daddy has five children ranging from 30 to 54, 14 grandchildren ages 2 to 29, and a three-year old great- grandson. He has been married to my mama for 55 years. Even though daddy is getting on in age he still plants a big garden for everyone to enjoy.
Everyone still depends on dear old dad or granddad if they need something. He’s the kind of man who knows how to love his family and they love him back. Just a simple man who enjoys the simple things in life… a tomato sandwich made from a vine ripen tomato from his own garden, the laughter of children playing, holding hands with the woman he loves, helping his family and neighbors and of course, a good ole Alabama football game.
Glenn Wilson
submitted by Amanda LeeAnn Siler.
I remember when the man I call my dad first came in to my life I was an older kid of a single mom with two children. He came in my life, gave me his last name and is more father to me than the person who biologically created me ever was. He didn’t have to be the dad to me that he was but he did anyways.
He recently had a heart attack and still goes out of his way to do anything and everything for me and my son even though only part of his heart is still functioning. He’s the best!
Tim Godwin
submitted by Rebeccah Godwin.
My daddy, Tim Godwin is the best dad ever. He works hard and still makes time for me and Miracle League of Pensacola. He and his friends make sure we have a place to play baseball and he is the BEST coach and dad ever. Even when he had a cancer and heart problems he made sure I was not afraid. I love him!!!
Frank Zisa
submitted by Katelyn Zisa.
I remember when I was playing little league softball, he was always there as my coach. He would always say “Never give up, no matter what that scoreboard reads; you’re out there to have fun”. I also remember when I was in first grade and he would always help me learn my spelling words, even if it took all day. I love my dad, I’ll always be his little girl.
Thomas McGinty
submitted by Leslie McGinty Garner.
My sisters and I are very blessed with the daddy the good Lord gave us. I don’t think there are enough descriptions to describe him. Early on, he set his mind on what kind of life he wanted to live and the things he wanted to accomplish, and to my knowledge, he succeeded and excelled in both of those areas.
My parents will soon celebrate 48 years of marriage. In this day and time, that’s almost unheard of. Our home was always full of love and a lot of silliness.
Growing up, daddy always had the answers to whatever question you had. To this day, I still find myself calling him with certain questions and he always has “the” answer. My sisters and I are probably a bit spoiled. Not necessarily with monetary things, but just spoiled with the love and adoration from loving parents.
We will always be “daddy’s little girls” no matter how old we get and he will always be our Superhero Dad! We love you very much, Thomas McGinty.
Paul Allen Thomas, Sr.
submitted by Jessica Thomas.
October 27, 2009, God called my daddy, Paul Allen Thomas Sr., home. He was such a great man. Never selfish. Would help anyone. RIP daddy I love you with all my heart. I’ll always be daddy’s little girl… July 9,1958 – October 27, 2009.
Jimmie Aden
submitted by Caitlin Roley-Lovely.
My dad is really my stepdad! He lives in Bratt, and his name is Jimmie Aden. He stepped up and was a dad to me and my sister when my dad wasn’t around. He has taught us everything from fishing to just general stuff a father should be there for.
And when I need anything I know that I can count on him to be there. I’m now out on my own and have a little girl that he also is the best pawpaw too. I love him more than words can describe and will always be thankful to have him as my dad!
Billy Jack Criswell
submitted by Marsha Criswell Maher
My Dad is a man of few words. And those words often times have to be beeped out, but his love is shown to us by checking our tire’s air pressure or oil in the vehicles and even by loaning us his treasured possessions. Day in and day out, year in and year out, he will always be my dad and I love him. Have a great day, Billy Jack Criswell… Happy Father’s Day!
Larry Enfinger
submitted by Kevin Enfinger
Dad has never given up on me no matter how thick or thin things have become. Love you dad.
Jerry Eugene Rolin
submitted by Deanna Ann Rolin
My dad is an amazing man.As long as I can remember my dad has been there for me and my brother. He has worked all his life to put food on the table and to support his family. The main thing is that my dad is a Christian man that has brought his children up in church and I thank him for that. Hhe may have not be the type that would discipline us but we knew better than to make him mad.
So this Father’s Day 2012 I am thankful that I still have my amazing dad still around with us. I Love You Daddy!!! Jerry Eugene Rolin. Love always your one and only daughter Deanna.
Jarvis Andrew Jackson
submitted by Susan Harris
My daddy is Jarvis Andrew Jackson. He is an amazing father to nine children who are all grown now.
He is an amazing grandfather to his grandsons. He is retired from the Marine Corps. He was hard on all us kids and loving at the same time. The song “Daddy’s Hands” really does go to my daddy. I couldn’t have asked for a better father. He is amazing.
I love and miss you daddy. He was living in Escambia County and just recently moved to Key West.
Submitted photos and stories for NorthEscambia.com