State Attorney: Flomaton Chief Target Of Florida Investigation; Council To Consider Job Status
February 24, 2012
The State Attorney’s Office confirmed late Thursday that Chief Geoff McGraw is the target of their investigation into the Flomaton Police Department over an incident that occurred in Escambia County, Florida. The announcement came just days before the Flomaton Town Council is set to consider the chief’s job.
Prior to Thursday, the State Attorney’s Office had only said the department was the subject of the investigation by the State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
Assistant (Fla.) State Attorney Greg Marcille said Thursday that his office and FDLE met this week concerning the status of the case involving McGraw. “All I can say right now is that the investigation is still ongoing” he said.
NorthEscambia.com has confirmed through multiple independent sources outside the State Attorney’s Office that the investigation centers around a suspect that claims he was wrongfully detained or arrested in Century by a member or members of the Flomaton Police Department without following proper arrest and extradition procedures.
McGraw’s employment status as police chief has become the focus of multiple rumors this week in Flomaton and on internet sites like Facebook, but Mayor Dewey Bondurant told NorthEscambia.com that McGraw remains Flomaton’s police chief.
“Chief McGraw is still chief of the Flomaton Police Department,” Bondurant said. The mayor said that McGraw is out of work this week on medical leave due to a sick relative. Bondurant had no further comment concerning McGraw or the investigation.
The police chief’s position is on the agenda for discussion at next Monday night’s meeting of the Flomaton Town Council at 6:30.
“I do not have any comment at this time due to this being an ongoing investigation,” McGraw said January 26, the day before NorthEscambia.com broke the story about the State Attorney and FDLE investigation into the Flomaton Police Department.
Man Charged With Choking Girlfriend To Death
February 24, 2012
An Escambia County man is behind bars today, charged with choking his girlfriend to death Thursday evening.
Kristopher Shawn Silas, age 36 of Garden Street, is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond, charged with second degree murder.
Pensacola Police Department detectives James Gore and Chad Willhite determined Silas and his girlfriend – 40-year old Tammy Lynn Bigham –were arguing in their apartment at the Carlton Palms condominiums at Alcaniz and Garden streets. The disagreement then escalated into a physical confrontation. Silas called 911 around 5 p.m. and said he had choked his girlfriend, according to police.
Bigham died at the scene. A motive remains under investigation, and an autopsy is pending.
Golden Apple: Escambia’s Pribble Named Teacher Of The Year
February 24, 2012
Jeffrey Pribble of Escambia High School was named Escambia County’s Teacher of the Year Thursday night during the annual Golden Apple Awards dinner.
Pribble teaches English, journalism and multimedia classes at Escambia High. He has been a teacher for 16 years.
One teacher from each school in the district was nominated for the award. From the North Escambia area, nominees were: Laura Jackson, Jim Allen Elementary; Pamela Trice, Bratt Elementary; Stephanie Gilmore, Byrneville Elementary; Chet Truet, Ernest Ward Middle; Twinette McDonald, Molino Park Elementary; Sammy Day, Northview High; Karen McRae Ransom Middle; Alan Culp, Tate High; and Majorie Stradle, West Florida High.
For a complete list of nominees, click here for an earlier story.
Michael “Scotty” Hughes, Jr.
February 24, 2012
Michael “Scotty” Hughes, Jr. age 42, of Cantonment passed away on Wednesday, February 22, 2012. Scotty was born on August 12, 1969, in Covington, LA. He was an avid hunter, fisherman and all around outdoorsman. Most of all he will be remembered as a loving father, grandfather, son, brother and uncle.
Preceding him in death were his grandfathers, Allen O’Neal and J. B. Hughes and his grandmother, Ruth Hughes.
Survivors include his spouse, Angela Freund, his sons, Nick and Michael Hughes, his step-son, Robert Freund, his step-daughter, Brianne Freund, his grandson, Harlom Poole, his mother, Betty (Billy Glenn) Sells, his father, Michael (Charlotte) Hughes, Sr. , his step-father, Robert (Helen) Wright, his grandmother, Bernice O’Neal, his uncle, Chuck Hollingsworth, his aunt, Marie (Ronnie) Pitts, his aunt, Helen (Randolph) Whittington, his brothers, Bobby (Heather) Hughes and Jason (Tania) Hughes, sisters, Jennifer Hughes, Emily Hughes and Casey Wright, nephews, Jacob Hughes, Garrett Hughes, Dakota Hughes and Colby Hughes, nieces, Megan Hughes, Shelby Hughes and cousins, Robyn Parmer and Kristi Brown.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 25, 2012m at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North-Cantonment with Rev. Mark Torres officiating.
Serving, as honorary pallbearers will be Chris Cody, Scott Allen, Lloyd Bird, David Plant, Joe Zayszl and Rodney Busbee.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 Highway 29 South Cantonment is in charge of arrangements.
Twin Sisters Ask For Youthful Offender Status In Fire Deaths Of 3 Kids
February 24, 2012
The twin sisters from Atmore accused of reckless murder after their three young children died home alone in a house fire last year are now seeking youthful offender status.
Akeevia Lajoseia Abner and Tekeevia Lajoseialan Abner, both 18, were due to appear in court Thursday for an arraignment hearing. The hearing never happened after the women applied for youthful offender status.
Under Alabama law, a person under 21 that is designated as a youthful offender will waive their right to a jury trial and consent to be tried without a jury. Youthful offenders can have their sentences suspended with or without probation. The most time a youthful offender can serve in prison is three years and the longest probation term is also three years.
To determine youthful offender status, the court will perform an investigation and look a the women’s previous records. The determination process could take several months.
If tried and convicted of reckless murder as adults, the Abner twins face up to life in prison on each of three counts. Both women remain in the Escambia County (Ala.) Detention Center in Brewton with bond set at $300,000 each.
The November 7 fire on 1st Street in Atmore claimed the lives of 3-year olds Aniyia Abner and Takia Abner, and 22-month old Michael Coleman.
A State Fire Marshal’s investigation determined the fire was caused by an unattended stove. Authorities say the mothers had left the children home alone while they were elsewhere in the neighborhood.
“They showed an extreme indifference to these children’s lives and created a grave risk of death to the children by leaving them home alone on November 2, 2011,” according to the Escambia County (Ala.) District Attorney’s Office shortly after the arrests.
Two of the children were found dead in a hallway while the third was found in a bedroom. And prosecutors said that a mattress was blocking the living room door.
Forensics evidence determined that the three young children died from smoke inhalation, authorities said.
Pictured top: Pictured bottom inset: This photo shows the oven door propped open inside the kitchen of the home. Pictured below: Three children died in a November 7 fire at this home. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
James Edward Gentry
February 24, 2012
James Edward Gentry, age 57 of Walnut Hill, peacefully went home to be with his Lord and Savior on February 24, 2012. He will be deeply missed by his family and all who knew him.
He is preceded in death by his mother and father, Betty Lou and John Edwin Gentry and a brother Terry Dean Gentry.
He is survived by his sister, Patricia Darlene Gentry; daughter, Tara Ann Gentry; sons, Jeremiah Egan Gentry, Joshua Evan Gentry, and James Ethan Gentry; nieces, Laura Michelle Gentry, Stacey Lynn Bailey and Alicia Nicole Yerg; nephews, Dustin and Drew Gentry; grandchildren, Brooklynn Gentry and Jacob Gentry; one great nephew, Michale Butler and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and a host of friends.
Funeral services will be held Monday, February 27, 2012, at 1 p.m.from Enon Baptist Church with Rev. Chip Barbas officiating. Burial will follow with full military honors at Enon Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Buddy Beathea, Larry Gibson, Tim Gentry, Randy Dortch, George Wetherbee, Roy Thomas and Zane Grey.
Family will receive friends Sunday, February 26, 2012, from 5-7p.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Citizens Insurance Revamp Passes House
February 24, 2012
A measure that will change the way Citizens Property Insurance Corp pays for claims in the event of a major storm passed the House Thursday on a 89-25 vote.
The bill would reduce the assessment on coastal Citizens policyholders from 6 percent to 2 percent and eliminates it for other residential and commercial accounts. The bill would make up the loss of revenue by shifting the repayment of losses by levying emergency assessments on a wider pool of policyholders and lengthening the repayment period.
Citizens now has about $12.8 billion available to pay claims until it would be require to seek assessments to pay claims. Meanwhile, the cost of a one in 100 year storm would be $23.2 billion..
By The News Service of Florida
Friday Night’s Northview At Freeport Baseball Canceled
February 24, 2012
Tonight’s Northview baseball games at Freeport have been canceled.
Both the varsity and junior varsity Chiefs were scheduled to travel to Freeport this afternoon, but Freeport canceled the game late Thursday afternoon due to a scheduling conflict.
Northview’s varsity and junior varsity baseball teams will be on the road Monday at Washington. The JV begins at 4:00 with the varsity to follow at 6:30 p.m.
Ethel Louise Mitchell
February 24, 2012
Ethel Louise Mitchell, 70, of Century died Friday, February 17, 2012.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Greater Glory New Testament Church of Deliverance in Flomaton. Jackson-McMurray Funeral Services in Century is directing.
Gilbert “Leo” Kimmons
February 24, 2012
Gilbert “Leo” Kimmons, age 92, passed away February 22, 2012.
Visitation will be held from 10 until 11 a.m. on Tuesday, February 28, 2012, at Highland Baptist Church in Molino.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, February 28, at Highland Baptist Church. Internment will follow in the Highland Baptist Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North in Cantonment is in charge of arrangement.