Hubert Wade Dunsford
September 8, 2012
Hubert Wade Dunsford, 81 of Century, passed away Tuesday, September 4, 2012, in Pensacola.
Known to most as Wade Dunsford, he was born in Jay, August 8,1931. He served our country in the Army for 20 years, served in the Korean War and retired with honorable service. For the past 30 years, he has been a faithful member of Faith Bible Baptist Church in Bluff Springs.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Eucedar Dunsford, one brother, Gene Dunsford, one sister, Sadie Burkett, and two sons, Roger Wade and James Raymond Dunsford.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Anna Mae Dunsford; daughters, Donna Jean Bare (Brian) and Vicki Lynn Godwin (Jimmy); three sons, Richard Wade Dunsford (Judy), Michael Patrick Dunsford (Tami), and William Jay Dunsford (Valerie); 16 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two brothers, Clifton Dunsford (Barbara), and James (Judy) Dunsford; and two sisters, Josie Driver (Cecil) and Mollie Dunsford.
Services were held at Faith Bible Baptist Church in Bluff Springs on Friday, September 7, 2012 with Bro. Ricky Dunsford, Pastor Robert Barrow and Bro. Gene Stokes will officiating.
Burial was at Byrneville Methodist Church in Byrneville.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Delois J. Kimmons
September 8, 2012
Mrs. Delois J. Kimmons, 78, passed away on Tuesday, September 4, 2012, in Atmore.
Mrs. Kimmons was a native of Dry Springs and a resident of Davisville her entire life. She was an employee of the Escambia County Florida School System; she was a bookkeeper at Davisville and Century. She was the youngest of 12 children born to Jim and Rachel Joiner.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Kimmons, nine siblings, Agnes Allen, Bessie Hollingsworth, Arthur Joiner, Albert Joiner, Emmett Joiner, Grady Joiner, Minnie Lee Foster, Hazel Gouch and Nancy Chavers. She came from a large family consisting of 88 brothers, sisters, in laws, nieces and nephews.
Survivors include her two sons, Anthony (Pam) Kimmons of Brookheaven, MS and Von Kimmons of Davisville; one brother, Hoyt (Polly) Joiner of Bristol, FL; one sister, Ola Cavens of Millington, TN; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and many other kids in the community that knew her as “Granny”.
Funeral services were held Saturday, September 8, 2012, at the Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Pastor Jim O’Brien officiating.
Burial was at Dry Springs Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Ben Kimmons, Eli Kimmons, Reuben Kimmons, Levon Kimmons, Brandon Sharpless and Aaron Sharpless.
Patriot Guard Rider Injured In Walnut Hill Motorcycle Crash
September 7, 2012
A Patriot Guard ride was injured in single motorcycle accident Friday afternoon in Walnut Hill.
The accident happened just before 3 p.m. on Highway 97 just south of North Highway 99. Robert Baker, age 67 of Perdido, Ala., reportedly suffered a mechanical problem with his motorcycle and was ejected as the bike overturned. Baker came to rest just off the northbound lane of Highway 97 while the motorcycle came to rest in the southbound lane.
Baker was transported by Atmore Ambulance to North Baldwin Infirmary in Bay Minette in stable condition.
Other Patriot Guard riders, who were returning from an escort, were not involved in the crash.
Pictured: A Patriot Guard rider was injured in this wreck Friday afternoon on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Former Medical Examiner With Body Parts In Storage Arrested
September 7, 2012
The former medical examiner that had body parts from over 100 people in an Escambia County storage unit was arrested Friday afternoon.
Michael Edward Berkland was charged with one count of improper disposal/storage of hazardous waste and one count of public nuisance, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins.
The improper storage charged is a third degree felony punishable by up to five years in state prison, while the public nuisance charge is a second degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 60 days in the county jail.
The remains were stored in plastic containers, specimen cups and trash bags inside Unit B12 at Uncle Bob’s Storage at 195 East Fairfield Drive. The unit was rented by Berkland, a former associate medical examiner who is no longer licensed in Florida, according to the Pensacola Police Department.
Lungs, hearts, tissue samples, and 10 brains were among the body parts from more than 100 people found in the air conditioned unit. The body parts were stored in formaldehyde in plastic containers, plastic bags, and even a 32-ounce Styrofoam cup from a convenience store.
Some of the containers had cracked and leaked, police said.
Storage shed Manager George Klages told police contents of the unit had been sold for $900 during an auction on August 22. As the purchaser began cleaning out the unit, cardboard boxes of plastic containers holding the remains were found.
Klages told police Berkland rented the unit from April 8, 2009, until it was auctioned August 22. He said Berkland was late on rental payments several times during the lease, but usually paid right before the unit contents were to be auctioned. The storage unit also contained office furniture and other property.
It is believed the remains are from autopsies Berkland did between 1997 and 2007 at funeral homes in Pensacola, Tallahassee, Fort Walton Beach, and Panama City.
At the time of his arrest, Berland was operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license and was also charged with that offense.
No Children Injured In Bus Versus Car Wreck
September 7, 2012
There were no children injured in a school bus versus car wreck this morning on Highway 29.
The accident happened about 7:55 a.m. at Highway 29 and West 9½ Mile Road. There were about 20 special needs children on the bus at the time of the crash. The only injury was to the driver of the vehicle that was hit by the bus. That person was transported to an area hospital in stable condition.
Further details have not been released by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Man That Promised 500 Century Lumber Jobs Convicted Of Felony Fraud
September 7, 2012
CULLMAN, ALA — The man behind a promise of up to 500 jobs announced in 2010 that never materialized in Century — has pleaded guilty to financial fraud charges brought against him by Alabama authorities.
James Leonard Craft, age 72 of Century, pleaded guilty to engaging in a scheme or artifice to defraud in connection with the sale of securities. He faces from one to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $370,000.
An investigation by the Alabama Securities Commission found that Craft solicited funds from investors to purportedly purchase wood products from South America, which were to be resold to U.S. distributors for the making of railroad cross ties and other products at a plant to be located in the former Alger Sullivan Lumber Company building in Century.
Craft was the manager of Century Lumber and Land, a company that held a ribbon cutting back in October 2010 for a group of new businesses that planned to locate in Century’s vacant Alger Sullivan Lumber Company property and bring up to 500 jobs to the struggling town. According to Workforce Escarosa, over 3,000 people applied for those jobs.
Craft stood holding the arm of Century Mayor Freddie McCall in October 2010 as the mayor cut a symbolic ribbon for Century Lumber and Land. Community members, Century town council members, county commissioners, and other county government representatives and business officials stood behind a Century Area Chamber of Commerce sign as the yellow ribbon fell.
But there was a tidbit very few of them knew — Craft or the company never had any legal claim the property where he was holding the ribbon cutting.
“It was never sold; it never even had a binder,” EXIT Realty NFI-Commerical agent Gary Watson said last year on behalf of the property owners.
In 2010, the Alabama Securities Commission issued a cease and desist order on Craft and his Century Lumber and Land after an attempt was made to solicit money from Alabama investors in at least three Alabama counties. The ASC said neither Craft or his business was registered to sell securities in Alabama as required by law.
In testimony in Cullman County (Ala.) Circuit Court, Craft readily admitted to Judge Gregory Nicholas that he intended on using the money for personal reasons while simultaneously making a fraudulent pitch that the investors’ funds were to be used to purchase wood products.
In September 2011, Craft was arrested by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and extradited to Etowah County, Ala., face charges. Craft’s arrest stemmed from a Etowah County Grand jury indictment for alleged illegal securities activities associated with his company. Indictments against Craft were also returned in Cullman and Shelby counties. All of the charges were later combined and tried in Cullman County Circuit Court.
“I hope the conviction of Mr. Craft sends a clear message to other fraudsters out there that the State of Alabama will not tolerate criminals preying on the citizens of Alabama,” said Greg Biggs, who prosecuted the case for the Alabama Securities Commission.
Craft remains free on bond while a pre-sentencing investigation is completed to determine Craft’s ultimate sentence and ability to pay $185,000 in restitution to his victims.
Pictured top: Convicted felon James Leonard Craft (light blue shirt, front left) holds the arm of Century Mayor Freddie McCall as he cuts the ribbon for Century Lumber and Land in October 2010. Pictured below: A group hoping to apply for a job gathered during the ribbon cutting. Pictured inset: The former Alger Sullivan Lumber Company building in Century was the planned home for Craft’s company. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Obama Asks For Four More Years Of Change
September 7, 2012
CHARLOTTE, NC — Trying to rekindle his connection with the American people after four years of recession and a slow recovery, President Barack Obama promised a better future if voters reaffirmed their commitment to an agenda he said still offered hope and change.
In a speech to a crowded hall on the final night of the Democratic National Convention, Obama conceded that his administration wasn’t offering a quick fix to problems “that have built up over decades” and would require years to correct.
“But know this, America: Our problems can be solved,” Obama said. “Our challenges can be met. The path we offer may be harder, but it leads to a better place.”
The speech marked a stark contrast from the situation Obama found himself in four years ago.
Then, he was a change agent running from the party out of power, the first major-party black presidential nominee, who drew such large crowds that he decided to hold his acceptance speech in a football stadium.
On Thursday, he spoke for about 40 minutes to a packed Time Warner Cable Arena, the night’s festivities having been moved from nearby Bank of America Stadium because officials said the weather forecast was too unpredictable. And Obama was in some ways arguing that a steady course would produce its own kind of change, or at least preserve the change that his administration had made over the past four years.
Obama himself acknowledged the shift in his position during the address, noting that the presidency had in some ways changed him from the young state senator who set the convention on fire in 2004 as the keynote speaker and the presidential candidate promising a fresh start in 2008.
“But as I stand here tonight, I have never been more hopeful about America,” he told cheering delegates. “Not because I think I have all the answers. Not because I’m naïve about the magnitude of our challenges. I’m hopeful because of you.”
The president also delivered a set of promises he said could be delivered if voters would give him a second turn. Obama pledged to create a million manufacturing jobs, boost exports, begin weaning America off foreign oil, rein in college costs and make deep reductions in the federal deficit.
But, much like GOP nominee Mitt Romney’s promise at the Republican National Convention to create 12 million new jobs, Obama offered few details on how he would reach those objectives.
“He offered more promises, but he hasn’t kept the promises he made four years ago,” Romney campaign manager Matt Rhoades said in a statement issued before the speech had ended. “Americans will hold President Obama accountable for his record — they know they’re not better off and that it’s time to change direction.”
Obama also used the speech to needle Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, over their differences on the issues. In a segment that seemed pointed at the senior citizens who could play a major role in deciding which candidate gets Florida’s 29 electoral votes, Obama took aim at the GOP’s plans for Medicare.
“And I will never turn Medicare into a voucher,” he said. “No American should ever have to spend their golden years at the mercy of insurance companies. They should retire with the care and dignity that they have earned.”
Obama’s speech capped off a night that featured a brief speech by former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, a Republican-turned-independent, and appearances from Hollywood stars like Eva Longoria and Scarlett Johansson. Democrats highlighted Obama’s achievements — including authorizing a bailout they say saved the American automobile industry and ordering the operation that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden.
The message implicit in many of the night’s speeches: Obama has earned one more chance.
“We’re on a mission to move this nation forward — from doubt and downturn, to promise and prosperity,” said Vice President Joe Biden. “A mission I guarantee you we will complete.”
By Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Mother Arrested For Making Her Son Panhandle
September 7, 2012
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a woman Thursday for allegedly forcing her underage son to panhandle for her at a busy intersection.
Jaime Anne Spicer, age 34 of Pace, was charged with child abuse and booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Deputies responded to the area of Davis Highway and Olive Road Thursday morning after receiving several reports of a child holding a sign that read, “Homeless, need help, God Bless.”
Spicer was sitting on a nearby bench while her son stood on the side of the road with his sign. When deputies arrived, Spicer snatched the sign away from her son in an attempt to conceal it.
When deputies questioned Spicer about what she was doing, she told deputies that they were panhandling because she needed money to pay for her motel room. When asked why she attempted to conceal her son’s sign, Spicer told deputies that she was a substitute teacher and did not want to get into any trouble.
The child was turned over to his father, and the Department of Children and Families was notified.
Prison Inmate Indicted For Murdering Cellmate
September 7, 2012
A Santa Rosa County Grand Jury has returned a two-count indictment against a Santa Rosa Correctional Institution inmate for the murder of cellmate earlier this year.
Shawn Rogers was charged with first degree premeditated murder with a weapon and armed kidnapping with weapon. The charges stem from Rogers’ attack on inmate Ricky D. Martin, 24, on March 30, 2012. Martin died from blunt force trauma to his brain on April 8, 2012.
Martin, who was from Collier County, was serving time for 2007 conviction on charges of grand theft, armed burglary, trafficking in stolen property and four counts of grand theft of a firearm.
Rogers is serving a life sentence for robbery with a deadly weapon and a 15-year sentence for aggravated battery with deadly weapon.
The state intends to seek the death penalty for the murder, according to prosecutors.
Tonight’s Prep Schedule
September 7, 2012
Here’s a look at tonight’s prep footballs schedule for schools in the North Escambia area:
FLORIDA
- Marianna at Northview, 7 p.m.
- Jay at Holmes County, 7 p.m.
- Fort Walton Beach at Tate, 7:30 p.m.
- Catholic at Gulf Breeze, 7:30 p.m.
- Crestview at Escambia, 7:30 p.m.
- Rutherford at Milton, 7:30 p.m.
- Navarre at PHS, 7:30 p.m.
- Pace at Niceville, 7:30 p.m.
- Washington at West Florida, 7:30 p.m.
ALABAMA
- Flomaton at Washington Co.
- Escambia County (Atmore) at Clarke Co.
- Monroe at Escambia Academy
- Opp at T.R. Miller
- W.S. Neal at Straughn