Body Found Behind Hwy 29 Business Is Identified; Investigators Seek Info
January 28, 2013
The body found Friday afternoon behind a Highway 29 business was that of a 35-year old Pensacola woman, investigators said.
The body of Melisa Midori Townsend was found in a field behind Alternative Powersports, near Kenmore Boulevard. Investigators said it appeared that the body had been at the location for a few days at the time of discovery.
Her next of kin were notified Sunday. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking to speak to anyone that may have seen Townsend in the last couple of weeks. She was known to frequent the areas of Davis Highway, Brent Lane, Pensacola Boulevard, Olive Road and Burgess Road.
Anyone with information about Townsend during the last two weeks is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Tate Pitcher Riley Hodge Signs With Tallahasee Community College
January 28, 2013
Tate High pitcher Riley Hodge has signed a scholarship to play for Tallahassee Community College next season. Hodge compiled a 5-1 record last year while posting a 1.06 ERA.
Pictured above are: TCC Head Coach Angelo Nicolosi, Riley Hodge, (back row) mother Robbie Hodge, father Wayne Hodge and Tate Head Coach Greg Blackmon. Pictured below: Hodge and his Aggies teammates. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Learn About ECUA, Neighborhood Watch
January 28, 2013
The Mid-County Neighborhood Watch will meet tonight with an opportunity for attendees to learn about the services provided by ECUA.
The group meets at 6:30 p.m. in room 123 of the new Molino Community Complex at 6450 Highway 95A. Guest speaker will be Jim Roberts, public information office for the ECUA.
Everyone in the Molino community is invited to attend.
Local Students Named To All-State Music Groups
January 28, 2013
Several local students were selected to participate in the Florida Music Educators Association All-State groups at the recent FMEA conference in Tampa.
After going through an extensive audition process, 11 students represented the Escambia County School District:
- Middle School Treble Chorus — Emma Jenkins, Ransom Middle
- Middle School Mixed Chorus — Seth Godwin, Ransom Middle
- Middle School Honors Band — Randi Avery, Ransom Middle
- Middle School Honors Orchestra — Cade Howell, Bailey Middle
- All-State High School Mixed Chorus — Katelyn Godwin, Tate High
- All-State High School Mixed Chorus — Eion Blanchard, Tate High
- All-State High School Concert Band — Jacob Howard, Tate High
- All-State High School Symphonic Band — Katie Massey, Tate High
- All-State High School Honors Orchestra — Daniel Adams, Escambia High
- All State Elementary Chorus – Lorna McLendon, N.B. Cook Elementary School of the Arts
- All State Elementary Chorus — Nathaniel Harding, A. K. Suter Elementary
Additionally, Baily and Workman middle schools were presented with the Music Enrollment award for having high enrollment in music courses.
Pictured: Randy Avery, who was named to the FMEA Middle School Honors Band, and Ransom Middle School Band Director Janie Walker. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Susan Deloras Merritt
January 28, 2013
Our Angel, Susan Merritt, 62, passed away peacefully surrounded by all those who loved her on January 25, 2013. Susan Deloras Merritt was born to the late William and Ruby Johnson in Pensacola on April 27, 1950. Susan was a lifetime resident of Pensacola and Molino where she raised her six children. She was a loving, devoted, selfless, strong, and sacrificial wife and mother. Susan taught her children that family is our most valuable treasure. She was a fierce protector and defender of her children whom she covered in prayer.
Susan is preceded in death by William Johnson (father), Ruby Johnson (mother), Patsy Stacey (sister), and William “Willie” Patrick Merritt (son). She is survived by her husband, Raymond Merritt Sr. (Buck) of 47 years who she loves dearly; her daughters, Teresa Allen (Clay), Kim Vaughn, Maggie Lafferty (David). Her son’s Raymond Merritt Jr. (Dee Dee), James Merritt (Susan). Best friend and sister’s Catrine Pippin and Gertrude Merritt. Her siblings, Cindy Leonard, Willie Johnson, Pat Johnson and Rusty Johnson. Numerous spoiled grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Susan retired from Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The family will receive friends from 5-8 p.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North on Tuesday January 29, 2013. Funeral services are 10:00 a.m. Wednesday January 30, 2013, at St. Jude’s Thaddeus Catholic Church in Cantonment.
Special thanks to the wonderful staff at Covenant Hospice who took such wonderful care of our mother.
Pall bearers will be her six grandsons Christopher Echele, A.J. Echele, Jonathan Echele, Lil Robert Vaughn, Shane Merritt and Hunter Allen.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
William Samuel Stapleton, Sr.
January 28, 2013
Mr. William Samuel Stapleton, Sr., age 68 of Brewton passed away on Friday, January 25, 2013, at D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital.
Mr. Stapleton was born in Florida and had been a resident of Brewton since 2005 coming from Jay. He worked as a roofer in the construction industry.
He is survived by his sons, Rusty (Jamie) Stapleton of Brewton and William S. Stapleton, Jr. of Berrydale; sisters, Mae Stapleton of South Florida and Aline Stapleton of PA; step-grandchildren, Christopher Captenter, Caitlyn Carpenter and Joseph Carpenter.
A memorial service will be announced at a later time, Craver’s Funeral Home directing.
Cannon Appointed to Deputy Secretary at the Department of Corrections
January 28, 2013
Timothy H. Cannon has been appointed as Deputy Secretary of Operations for the Florida Department of Corrections.
Cannon brings over 23 years of corrections experience to this role and has risen through the ranks of the department, where he started as a correctional officer in 1989.
As deputy secretary, Cannon will be responsible for managing daily operational issues and working with executive leadership to implement policy initiatives to enhance overall operations while ensuring that the department continually meets its mission.
“This is a great day for the Department,” said Corrections Secretary Mike Crews. “We are fortunate to have so many dedicated staff and great leadership in our Agency and it is an honor to be able to promote someone with Deputy Secretary Cannon’s knowledge and operational experience in the Department. He has a genuine concern for employees and I am confident that he will continue to lead with the same integrity, passion and commitment that has been so evident throughout his career.”
“God has richly blessed me in my life; I am humbled and honored to serve the staff of this great Agency. Our successes are directly attributed to the contributions of our dedicated, hard working staff – I appreciate each of them and look forward to working for them,“ Cannon said.
Martha Verge Edwards
January 28, 2013
Martha Verge Edwards, age 64, a resident of Pensacola, formerly of Douglass, Kansas, passed away on January 25, 2013, at the Specialty Center of Pensacola. She was born on November 6, 1948, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, the daughter of William and Helen Verge. The family moved to Independence, Kansas, when she was a toddler. She attended school in that town, graduating from Independence High School in 1966.
For several years she was a home health care provider for Mercy Hospital of Independence, Kansas. In January of 2000, Martha was united in marriage to Dennis Brent (Butch) Edwards of Douglass, Kansas, where she resided until she moved to Pensacola after her husband’s death.
Martha was a member of and served as office clerk at Beulah Baptist Church in Pensacola.
Martha is survived by her mother, Helen Verge of Independence, Kansas; her brother Richard Verge and wife Carolyn, also of Independence; a brother Willis Verge and wife Georganna of Rogers, Arkansas; brother Thomas Verge and wife Vera of Pensacola; sister-in-law Martha Jo Verge of Bethany, Oklahoma, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father William Verge of Independence, her husband, Butch, and one brother Alfred Verge of Bethany, Oklahoma.
A memorial service will be held at Beulah Baptist Church, Pensacola at a later date. Graveside services will be held at the Harrisonville Cemetery, Wayside, Kansas, on Wednesday, January 30, 2013.
Ariel Holland Named Miss Northview High 2013 (With Photo Gallery)
January 27, 2013
Ariel Holland was crowned Miss Northview High School for 2013 Saturday night. First Runner-Up was Ashley Cunningham, and Second Runner-Up was Kendal Cobb.
Other members of the Top 5 were Kaitlyn Abbot and Morgan Ward.
Lily Townson was named Miss Congeniality, and Kamryn Brock was named Miss Hospitality. The Miss Physical Fitness award was Shaquanna Jones, while Courtney Lambert was named Miss Poise and Appearance.
For a complete NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the pageant, click here.
Pictured top: Second Runner-Up Kendal Cobb, Miss Northview High School 2013 Ariel Holland, First Runner-Up Ashley Cunnningham. Pictured inset: Holland was crowned by Miss Northview High School 2012 Charleigh McPherson. Pictured below: Miss Hospitality Kamryn Brock, Miss Physical Fitness Shaquanna Jones, Miss Congeniality Lily Townson and Miss Poise and Appearance Courtney Lambert. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Man Arrested On Drug Charges, Probation Violation Warrant
January 27, 2013
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Century man Saturday night that had been on the run from law for last couple of months.
Javis Cane Grimes was booked into the Escambia County Jail about 9:15 p.m. Saturday on an outstanding violation of probation warrant, failure to appear and a bond revocation in an outstanding drug case, along with new charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Grimes is being held without bond.
The violation of probation warrant was from a 2010 case in which Grimes was convicted of possession of drug equipment and two counts of possession of a listed chemical after a Byrneville traffic stop.
During a search of Grimes’ pickup truck, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies found pseudoephedrine pills, rubber tubing, starter fluid and other potential meth-making ingredients, according to a Sheriff’s Office arrest report. For the items, he completed an 18 months prison sentence in February 2012 and began 24 months on probation.
In November 2012, Grimes was arrested again after a traffic stop on Highway 168 near Wawbeek Road. In the vehicle, deputies reported finding methamphetamine, two syringes and multiple items used to manufacture methamphetamine inside the vehicle, according to an arrest report. He is awaiting trial for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. The arrest promoted a violation of probation warrant to be issued on November 8.
Pictured top: Drug paraphernalia discovered after a traffic stop on a pickup truck driven by Javis Grimes in 2010. Grimes was sentenced to 18 months in state prison for the the items, along with other drug paraphernalia. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.