Clyde Calvin Byrd
July 12, 2012
Clyde Calvin Byrd, 70 of Atmore passed away Tuesday July 10, 2012, at his residence. He was retired from CSX Railroad, born in Huxford, Al on June 19, 1942 to the late Patrick Garvey and Myrtle Croley Byrd.
Survivors are two sons, Paul Byrd and wife, Tina of Brewton, Raymond Byrd and wife, Nancy of Fort Deposit, AL; one brother, Vernon Byrd and wife Melba of Mobile; one sister, Pat Baxter and husband, Levon of St.Elmo, AL; three grandchildren, Christian Byrd, Zackary Byrd, and Stephanie Byrd; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be Saturday July 14, 2012, at 11 a.m. from the Huxford Reorganized Latter Day Saints Church. Interment will follow in the church cemetery with full military honors.
Family will receive friends Saturday July 14, 2012, at the church one hour prior to service time.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Police Arrest Shooting Suspect And Attempted Murder Suspect
July 11, 2012
One person has been arrested in connection with a Monday night shooting at the Tom, Ann & Buddy’s liquor store in Pensacola, and another man has been charged with attempted murder for a a double shooting earlier this month.
Tom, Ann, & Buddy’s Shooting Arrest
A Pensacola man was arrested Tuesday night in connection with a shooting that occurred Monday evening inside a liquor store.
George Lewayne Blount, 24, was arrested on charges of solicitation of attempted homicide.
Detective Jeff Brown said it is believed the shooting may have occurred over money.
Pensacola Police responded to Tom, Ann & Buddy’s, 1917 W. Cervantes St., around 9:40 p.m. Monday after dispatchers received a 911 call about the shooting. Upon arrival, police were told a man had been shot inside the establishment and been taken to a local hospital by private vehicle.
The man’s injuries were not considered life threatening.
Brown said it is believed the incident began when Preston Hines, 29 of Pensacola, and Blount argued over money. Meanwhile, Carissa Gilliams, 21, of Pensacola got involved in the argument, which escalated into a physical confrontation involving the three of them.
At that point, the victim – Ladarrius Adam Hines, 23 of Pensacola, – who is Preston Hines’ brother, tried to break up the fight, but Blount reportedly told another male to shoot Ladarrius, Brown said.
Ladarrius Hines told Brown he then ran toward a door but was shot a second time and fell to the floor. Blount and the other suspect ran out of the business and fled the scene.
The second suspect was described as a light-skinned black male, thin build with a heavy New York accent. He may go by the name of “L.A.” and may be trying to get back to New York, Brown said.
Murder Suspect Arrested
A man wanted in connection with a double shooting that occurred earlier this month in Pensacola has been arrested.
Vernon Stewart Polk, age 23 of Pensacola, was arrested around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. He was charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.
Polk was wanted in connection with a double shooting that occurred around 4 p.m. on June 18 in the 2200 block of North Davis Highway. The victims – Antoinette Hunter, 28, and Alonzo Lindsey, 31, both of Pensacola – were sitting inside a vehicle outside the Chicago Store when Polk walked up to the passenger’s side of the vehicle. An investigation determined Polk fired multiple shots into the vehicle through an open window, striking Lindsey, who was sitting in the front passenger’s seat, three times. Hunter, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, was hit by a stray bullet.
It is believed the shooting occurred over money Lindsey may have owed Polk, according to Pensacola Police.
Local Elementary And Middle School Grades Fall
July 11, 2012
The number of elementary and middle schools in Florida with a grade of “A” dropped this year as the number of schools making a “D” of “F” in the state nearly doubled, according to numbers released by the Florida Department of Education Wednesday morning. Locally, school grades also slipped.
In Escambia County, just 11 elementary and middle schools earned an A down from 25 A schools last year. Last year there was only one D and one F school in Escambia County; this year there are seven D and three F elementary and middle schools.
There were 13 A schools in Santa Rosa counties, down from 19 last year. One Santa Rosa School fell to a C with none earning a D or F; last year there were no C, D or F schools.
The school grades for 2012 are the first that included students who are just learning English and students with disabilities in the school grade calculations.
Because of the inclusion of students with disabilities and English language learners, the State Board of Education approved a policy keeping all schools from dropping more than a letter grade.
In the North Escambia area, Byrneville Elementary School maintained a A grade. Bratt Elementary, Jim Allen Elementary, Molino Elementary, Ernest Ward Middle and Ransom Middle schools all fell from A schools to a B.
For a list of all school grades from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, click here.
High school grades are still pending and have not yet been released.
Shots Fired During Armed Robbery
July 11, 2012
Shots were fired during an armed robbery Tuesday night in Escambia County.
The robbery was reported at 10:19 at the U Save Foods convenience store at 7144 Mobile Highway. Two males, both armed with firearms, entered the store and demanded money from the clerk.
After the clerk complied, deputies said one of the suspects fire a shot inside the store, and then both suspects ran outside. Once outside the store, one of the suspects fire another shot. No one was hit by either gunshot.
The two suspects then fled the scene in a vehicle.
Further details, including any description of the vehicle or the suspects, were not released by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Anyone with information about this robbery is asked to contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Dispute Over $10 And Food Stamps Leads To Battery Of Elderly Woman
July 11, 2012
A Molino man is jailed, charged with the battery of an elderly woman over $10 and a food stamp card.
Alvin Richard Wallace, 47, was charged with one count of felony battery on a person 65 years or older and booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $1,000.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported armed disturbance in Molino where the victim, a female in her 70’s, told deputies that she wanted Wallace to pay the $10 he owed her before she gave him his food stamp card. She said Wallace became angry and came at her in an aggressive manner. The elderly woman said she grabbed a knife to defend herself.
He left the residence after claiming the woman cut him with the knife, but deputies found no injuries on his person, according to arrest report.
The victim reported that Wallace returned to the residence, spit at her and grabbed her hand with the knife. The elderly woman, according to the Sheriff’s Office report, then grabbed a beer bottle and hit Wallace in the head three times to defend herself.
Wallace first refused medical treatment but was later evaluated. The elderly woman was not injured.
Cantonment Woman Charged With Grand Theft Auto
July 11, 2012
A Cantonment woman is free on bond after being charged with grand theft auto.
The victim told Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies that he loaned his 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee to 30-year old Tabitha Dyan Frye of Muscogee Road for one day, but she failed to return it. He said he had allowed Frye to stay at his trailer because she was having issues at her residence. The victim said he tried unsuccessfully to contact Fry for a couple of days.
She was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
Obama Won’t Pay Your Utility Bill: Scam Warning Issued
July 11, 2012
A new scam is sweeping the nation by claiming that President Obama will pay your utility bills through a new federal stimulus program. Customers nationwide, including in northwest Florida have reported the scam, and several energy companies across the country have issued warnings to their customers about it, according to the BBB.
Consumers have been contacted in person and through fliers, social media, phone calls and text messages with claims that President Obama is providing credits or applying payments to utility bills.
Scammers claim they need the consumers’ social security and bank routing numbers in order for them to receive the money. In return, customers are given a phony bank routing number that will supposedly pay their utility bills. In reality, there is no money, customers believe they have paid their bills when in fact they have not, and they have now put themselves at risk of identity fraud, according to the BBB.
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) also issued a warning about the scam on Tuesday.
The BBB offers the following tips for avoiding utility related scams:
- Never provide your social security number, credit card number or banking information to anyone requesting it over the phone or at your home unless you initiated the contact and feel confident with whom you are speaking.
- If you receive a call claiming to be your utility company and feel pressured for immediate payment or personal information, hang up the phone and call the customer service number on your utility bill.
- Never allow anyone into your home to check electrical wiring, natural gas pipes or appliances unless you have scheduled an appointment or have reported a utility problem. If you have reported a problem, ask utility employees for proper identification.
- Always think safety first. Do not give in to high pressure tactics over the phone for information or in-person to get into your home.
Two Escambia Women Facing Federal Charges For Fraudulent Oil Spill Claims
July 11, 2012
A federal grand jury has returned indictments charging two Escambia County residents with filing fraudulent claims with the trust fund established for Gulf Coast oil spill victims.
Indictments were returned against Jakima T. McCorvey, 36, and April McKinney, 31.
The indictment charging Jakima T. McCorvey alleges that, between October and December 2010, McCorvey submitted multiple fraudulent claims to the Gulf Coast Claims Facility, claiming lost earnings as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. According to the indictment, McCorvey submitted a fraudulent letter from Howard Johnson Hotel claiming that she had worked as a housekeeper at Howard Johnson, when in fact McCorvey did not work for the hotel.
The indictment charges McCorvey with both mail fraud and wire fraud for her fraudulent claims.
The indictment charging April McKinney alleges that, in October 2010, McKinney submitted a fraudulent business claim to the Gulf Coast Claims Facility, claiming lost earnings as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. According to the indictment, McKinney misrepresented the extent to which she earned income from her cleaning business and the effect the oil spill had on her opportunities for work. The indictment charges McKinney with mail fraud for her fraudulent claim.
If convicted each faces up to 20 in prison, five years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine and restitution on each count.
Daniel Marlow of Panama City and Dana Dias of Destin were also indicted on similar charges.
Florida ‘Stand Your Ground’ Panel Hears Emotional Testimony
July 11, 2012
The task force created by Gov. Rick Scott to review Florida’s controversial “stand your ground” law heard from experts on security and neighborhood-watch programs at its third meeting Tuesday – along with emotional statements from members of the public who said crime had touched their lives.
The speakers included the widow, mother and friends of Scott Standard, who was killed in front of his home in Citrus County in January 2011. James W. Conner III, a neighbor engaged in a long-running dispute with Standard, shot Standard at least twice, but pleaded self-defense under the “stand your ground” law and was not charged. The only witness, Conner’s wife, supported his claim, but Standard’s family has insisted that Conner was the aggressor.
“This law is written as a license to kill,” Barbara Standard, Scott Standard’s mother, told task force members who met in the rural community of Arcadia. “Are we bitter? You better believe it.”
Other members of the public described their own ordeals.
“This law failed my son,” said Debra Peoples of Tampa, who said her son Chyvas was attacked by gang members in Ybor City and is now serving 30 years for killing one of them. “There’s a disparity in the application and interpretation of the “stand your ground’ law.”
Peoples said her son’s case, “where he was in fear for his life, needs to be reinvestigated and a hearing held.”
But others who testified, like Ed Johnson of Arcadia, said they were crime victims and urged the panel not to weaken the statute. “We need the ’stand your ground’ law to protect us from evil people,” Johnson said.
The governor formed the task force after neighborhood-watch volunteer George Zimmerman shot and killed an unarmed teen, Trayvon Martin, who was walking in a gated community in Sanford. When Zimmerman pleaded self-defense under the “stand your ground” law and wasn’t immediately arrested, charges of racism sparked protests across the country.
The task force, which is chaired by Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll, is expected to make recommendations to lawmakers about whether the law needs changes, and is collecting testimony and data, with meetings planned through November.
Tuesday morning’s agenda was devoted to expert testimony, while the public spoke in the afternoon.
The expert consensus was that crime-watch volunteers “are not to engage in any kind of confrontation,” as Jane Meier of the Melbourne Police Department’s Volunteer in Partnership Program put it.
Expectations vary from program to program, but crime-watch volunteers agreed that trained volunteers are not vested with any law enforcement authority.
“Our objective is a visible presence,” said Len Smally, manager of the Meadows Community Association in Sarasota, which employs private security. “It certainly deters crime.”
One member of the panel, Judge Krista Marx of Palm Beach County, said the common thread of the expert testimony is that crime-watch volunteers shouldn’t act as law enforcement.
“Under the present state of the law, under ’stand-your-ground,’ if a neighborhood watch individual were to pursue or confront, they would be perceived as the provoker, and therefore, not be able to avail themselves of ’stand-your-ground’ immunity,” Marx said.
But Karl “KC” Poulin, president of the Florida Association of Security Companies, said watch volunteers can find themselves in some pretty difficult situations. He said private security officers and neighborhood watch volunteers are often on the front line against crime, when police aren’t always right there.
“I had an officer last year killed in one of these neighborhoods. He was gunned down by a gang member. And then we’re going to ask them as citizens to go out there in that same neighborhood, and get involved with us and communicate with us and tell us what’s going on? That’s a lot to ask,” Pullen said.
After the public testified, which took about 90 minutes, Carroll took a moment to address charges of racial disparity in application of the law. One speaker, Andrea Ortiz, a student of ethics at New College, had referred to an investigation of roughly 200 “stand your ground” cases by the Tampa Bay Times last month.
“Justice cannot be done if white shooters are killing black kids,” said Ortiz.
But Carroll cautioned that the Times’ sample was too small and said the University of Florida is examining all “stand your ground” cases documented by state attorney’s offices and law enforcement agencies for the panel’s review.
“That data we receive to this task force should be what we look at to see if there is disparity in the application and the use of the law, and not just a very small sample coming out of a newspaper article,” Carroll said.
By The News Service of Florida
Belle Foods: New Name Coming To Area Grocery Stores
July 11, 2012
Changes are coming to several grocery stores across the area as they are transformed into “Belle Foods” stores.
The Food World in Atmore, four Food World stores in Pensacola and the Piggly Wiggly in Brewton are among 57 stores undergoing the name change within the next 18 months.
All of the stores are owned by Southern Family Markets of Birmingham, now renamed Belle Foods, LLC.
With the slogan “Refreshing Simple”, the company plans to develop the brand, focusing on customer service, simplicity and “loyalty card” savings.
Pictured top: The Food World store in Atmore is one of a half dozen stores in the area that will be rebranded as Belle Foods stores in the coming months. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.