Mildred Simmons Dean
January 21, 2012
Mildred Simmons Dean, 89 of Little River, AL, died Saturday, January 21, 2012, at her residence. She was a homemaker, born in Lottie, AL, on July 20, 1922, to the late Charlie and Edith Chambliss Simmons.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Hilud Dean.
She is survived by two sons: Charlie Dean and wife, Martha, Robert Dean and wife, Angela, all of Little River; one daughter, Diane Spence and husband John of Walnut Hill; seven grandchildren, Tracie, Don, Jaime, Noah, Jacob, Hannah, and Mary Kathryn; and one great-grandSon, Brady.
Services will be Sunday January 22, 2012, at 2:30 p.m. from Little River Baptist Church, with Rev. Wayne McMillian officiating. Interment will follow in the Little River Baptist Church Cemetery.
Family will receive friends Sunday January 22, 2012, at the church one hour prior to service time.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Dense Fog Advisory, Rain For Saturday
January 20, 2012
There is a dense fog advisory in effect until 9 a.m. Saturday.
- Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers. Areas of fog after 4am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 7am. Areas of fog before 7am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. South wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Areas of fog after 4am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 7am. Areas of fog before 7am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 75. South wind between 5 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Sunday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west.
- Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 68. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. North wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. East wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72.
- Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 53.
- Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 66.
- Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.
Four Life Sentences: Phillip Monier Guilty Of Shooting Three Escambia Deputies
January 20, 2012
An Escambia County jury returned a guilty verdict Friday afternoon in the trial of Phillip Monier for shooting three Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies in 2010.
Monier was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences in prison.
He was found guilty of four counts attempted murder, along with counts of aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of methamphetamine. A burglary charge was reduced to trespassing.
Monier convicted of shooting Deputy Jeremy Cassady and deputies Sam Parker and Chad Brown during a home invasion hostage incident October 29 at his girlfriend’s home near Scenic Highway in Pensacola. Monier was also charged in connection with shooting at a fourth deputy who was not wounded.
Cassady was severely wounded in the incident and spent 20 days in Sacred Heart Hospital. He later received a pancreas and kidney transplant in August 2011.
Monier’s girlfriend, Jackie Rosenbloom, called 911 as Monier forced his way into her home looking a ring that he demanded be returned. He took Rosenbloom hostage and ignored orders to drop his weapon as deputies entered the home. Monier used Rosenbloom as a human shield, but he was struck by at least one round in the hand. He was eventually talked out of the home by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team and hostage negotiators.
Multiple Accidents Create Morning Problems On I-10
January 20, 2012
Multiple accidents created major traffics problems on I-10 near the Pine Forest Road exit Friday morning.
In a 7:30 a.m. accident, 51-year old Henry King of Cantonment and his passenger, 8-year old Joshua King, were stopped due to traffic. According to the Florida High Patrol, 37-year old Robert J. Roach of Pensacola locked his brakes, veered into the outside lane of I-10 and slid into the rear of the King’s vehicle. Henry and Joshua King were transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries. Roach was cited for an improper lane change.
In one accident at 7:49 a.m., the Florida Highway Patrol said Nicholas Larry Davis, age 27 of Cantonment, veered into the median to avoid stopped traffic, colliding with a Jeep driven by 47-year old Sherry Maureen Toler of Seminola, AL, that was already in the median. Both were uninjured. Davis was cited for careless driving.
In an accident at 8:02 a.m., the FHP said 29-year old Katrina Rook of Pensacola was stopped for traffic when Leslie Gildersleeve, age 30 of Daphne, rear-ended her. Gildersleeve was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries. She was also cited for careless driving.
In a fourth accident, 23-year old Ashley Smith of Seminole, AL, was stopped for traffic when she was rear-ended at 8:09 a.m. by 42-year old Naomi Gentry, also of Seminole. Both were uninjured; Gentry was cited for careless driving.
Extreme Makeover: Refurbished Fire Trucks Save Escambia $1.6 Million
January 20, 2012
Escambia County has seven like-new refurbished fire trucks in service, including five in the immediate North Escambia area — with the refurbished models saving the county over a million and a half dollars versus new.
In late 2010, the Escambia County Commission authorized $2,147,586 to refurbish six “commercial pumpers”, to refurbish one 75-foot aerial truck and to purchase one 2011 model 78-foot aerial truck.
Two fire trucks from the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and one each from McDavid, Molino, Beulah and Innerarity Point were completely refurbished and returned to their respective home stations during the last few weeks.
The 1991 model trucks were stripped down and completely rebuilt from the tires up, including new electronic pumps, new bodies, new paint and new lights. The process is estimated to add another 20 years to the expected life of each truck.
“It’s just like a new truck,” Century District Fire Chief Regi Burkett said, adding that Escambia County saved about $1.6 million by choosing to refurbish rather than buy new.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue received a refurbished 1991 75-foot ladder truck that was formerly assigned to Ensley. The Ensley Station received a 2011 78-foot aerial truck.
While there are few multi-story buildings in North Escambia, Burkett said that Century’s ladder truck will prove useful for rescues and for reaching over a large square footage building.
Pictured above: Newly refurbished Escambia Fire Rescue trucks together at the Walnut Hill Fire Station. From the left, Engine 1814 – Molino, Engine 911 – McDavid, Engine 1512 – Walnut Hill, Ladder 5 – Century, Engine 1511 – Walnut Hill, Engine 214 – Beulah, and Engine 812- Innerarity Point. Pictured below: Century’s newly refurbished 75-foot ladder truck. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sheriff’s Office Offers Free Fingerprinting For Children Saturday
January 20, 2012
Free fingerprinting for children will be available this Saturday at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Substation in Century.
The fingerprinting will be offered from 9 a.m. until 1 pm. at the substation located at 7500 North Century Boulevard. The fingerprints are for family records only; the Sheriff’s Office will not retain copies of the prints, according to a news release.
The event will be hosted by the Sheriff’s Office Explorers, a voluntary program that educates and involves young people in law enforcement operations whether or not they choose to enter a career in law enforcement. Members gain a working knowledge of police work and have the opportunity to serve their community.
Explorers receive training in patrol procedure, first aid, honor guard, criminal law, crime prevention, finger-printing, arrest techniques, drug abuse prevention, firearms safety, crime scene techniques and more.
Legendary Tate Coach Floyd Adams Inducted Into Hall Of Fame
January 20, 2012
A legendary former coach for Tate High School and Jefferson Davis Community College was inducted into the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in Birmingham Friday night.
Floyd Adams was 179-37 at Tate High School, where he spent two years as an assistant coach before serving as head coach for seven years. He then moved on in 1984 to the college level at Jeff Davis in Brewton where he was 303-149 in 10 seasons.
Adams is a 1952 graduate of Escambia County High School in Atmore. He has been retired from coaching for over a decade.
Gladys M. Smith
January 20, 2012
Gladys M. Smith, 94, of Walnut Hill died Thursday January 19, 2012, in Pensacola. She was a retired seamstress with Vanity Fair Mills born in Opp, AL, on September 7, 1917, to the late Shirley and Bessie Knowles Money.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Smith, sister Hazel Parrish, and brother Buster Money.
She is survived by a son, Lamar Smith and wife Madonna of Dogwood Park; a sister, Lois Wells of Sopchoppy, FL, two grandchildren, Victor Smith of Crestview, Candace Eick and husband Eric of Leesburg, GA; and one great-grandchild, Ryan Eick of Leesburg, GA.
Graveside services will be Monday January 23, 2012, at 11 a.m. in the Walnut Hill Baptist Cemetery, with Rev. Ted Bridges officiating.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Regency Hospice, 4900 Bayou Blvd, #101, Pensacola, FL 32503.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Escambia Schools To Host Career Academy Showcase
January 20, 2012
The Escambia County School District Workforce Education Department will host the 2012 Empower Your Mind Middle and High School Career Academy Showcase next week.
The event will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, January 26 at the Woodham Middle School Gymnasium at 150 East Burgess Road. Families of fifth through ninth grade students in Escambia County are invited to attend the Career Academy Showcase to discover opportunities provided through career academy participation.
Teachers, students, and business partners from all middle and high school career academies in Escambia County will showcase their academies.
Representatives from the School Choice Office will be available to assist families with completing career academy applications.
The career academy application deadline for high schools is February 15; the deadline for middle schools is March 15. For more information, visit career.escambia.k12.fl.us/home/index.asp.
Hundreds Of Trees Given Away
January 20, 2012
Hundreds of trees were given away in Century Thursday as part of a Florida’s Arbor Day celebration.
Escambia County, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (UF/IFAS) Extension, and Florida Forestry Service teamed up to give away Shumard Oak, Bald Cypress, River Birch, Mayhaw, Chickasaw Plum and Wax Myrtle seedlings.
Extension Master Gardeners were also available to advise participants on tree types and tree placement in the landscape.
A similar program was held Friday in Warrington.
The Arbor Day Celebration is funded through the U. S. Department of Agriculture and Florida Forestry Service with a grant administered by Escambia County Community & Environment Department.
Pictured: A tree giveaway Thursday morning in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
