Northeast Pensacola Sertoma Club Recognized Deputy’s Actions
February 14, 2013
Escambia County Sheriff’s Master Deputy Joanna Wilson was recognized by the Northeast Pensacola Sertoma Club Wednesday.
Through the Sertoma Awards Program, the Northeast Pensacola Chapter honors and celebrates the accomplishments of Pensacola area first responders, recognizing officers who go above and beyond the call of duty.
On Saturday August 4, 2012, Deputy Joanna Wilson responded to a forgery call at a bank where two women were attempting to pass a stolen check. The women left before she had arrived, but Deputy Wilson identified the suspects’ vehicle to be a rental car from Broward County, Florida. She began to patrol local motels, eventually locating the suspect’s vehicle. This action led to several arrests, two of them known gang members linked to an organization that has been responsible for committing bank fraud with a monetary loss of approximately six million dollars.
Pictured: Escambia County Sheriff’s Master Deputy Joanna Wilson was recognized Wednesday by the Northeast Pensacola Sertoma Club. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Seven Injured In Wreck Involving County Fire Chief
February 14, 2013
Escambia County’s fire chief was involved in a four vehicle crash late Wednesday afternoon that injured seven people.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Fire Chief Patrick Grace was responding to a house fire with lights sirens activated. Troopers said he stopped before entered the intersection of Fairfield Drive and W Street with a steady red light.
Oncoming traffic on eastbound inside lane of Fairfield Drive was stopped when 73-year old Randolph W. Scurry of Pensacola entered the intersection with a green light, striking the side of the fire chief’s SUV, which then struck a third vehicle that rolled into fourth.
The crash remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Pictured: Escambia County’s fire chief was involved in this four vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon in Pensacola. Photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Roger Wayne Barnhill
February 14, 2013
Mr. Roger Wayne Barnhill, 59, passed away on Wednesday, February 13, 2013, in Pensacola.
Mr. Barnhill was a native and lifelong resident of Atmore. Mr. Barnhill was a Poarch Creek Indian and worked at Alabama Maritime and Engles Shipyard. He attended the Gospel Light Church. His mother and step-dad, Ada Ree and Carlton Hubbard; grandson, Dylan Blake Barnhill; and grandparents, PR and Ruby McGhee Barnhill and Lee and Katie Mae Booker Searcy precede him in death.
Survivors include his father, Dillard (Shirley) Barnhill of Atmore; one son, Dustin Wayne Barnhill of Atmore; two daughters, Ashley Barnhill (Lance) Hodges of Atmore and Jessica Ann Barnhill of Atmore; two brothers, Rocky Barnhill of Stockton and Michael Barnhill of Atmore; three sisters, Melissa (Phillip) Ellis of Flomaton, Terri (Scott) Watkins of Atmore and Madonna Barnhill of Mobile; and five grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Sunday, February 17, 2013, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Bro. Marty Gehman officiating.
Burial will follow at the Serenity Garden Cemetery.
Visitation will be Saturday, February 16, 2013, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Johnny Mothershed, Jonathan McKinley, Jerry Searcy, Douglas Daughtry, Scott Watkins and Anthony Rolin.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of arrangements.
Andrew Stabler
February 14, 2013
Mr. Andrew Stabler, 65, passed away on Tuesday, February 12, 2013, in Atmore.
Mr. Stabler was a native of Uriah and lifelong resident of Atmore. He was a tug boat captain for 33 years with Warrior and Gulf Navigation and owner of the Country Lounge for 11 years. He was a member of the Atmore Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. His parents, Oscar and Annie Stabler; one brother, Elbert Stabler; and three sisters, Cathy Wood, Martha Cooper and Debbie McCurdy precede him in death.
Survivors include his wife, Martha Stabler of Atmore; two sons, Hank (Connie) Stabler of Molino and Bobby Stabler of Atmore; one stepson, Wade (Dedra) Canova of Gasden, AL; one daughter, Teresa Marie (Charles) Waters of Bratt; one stepdaughter, Samantha (Arthur) Mothershed of Atmore; one sister, Linda (George) Floyd of Ellisville, MS; and 12 grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Friday, February 15, 2013, at 3:00 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Thurl Pearson officiating.
Burial will follow at the Oak Hill Cemetery.
Visitation will be Friday, February 15, 2013, from 1 p.m. until funeral time at 3 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Billy Harris, Bubba Tedder, Randall Ward, Tony Lambeth, Chase Amerson and Aaron Lambeth.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements, Atmore, Alabama
Escambia Man Dies In Baldwin County Crash
February 13, 2013
Alabama State Troopers have released the name of an Escambia County man killed in a Baldwin County crash on Monday.
Troopers said 35-year od Jason L. Marks of Pensacola was westbound on U.S. 98 near Elberta when his 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse cross the center line for unknown reasons. He collided head-on with a 2007 Mack trucks.
Marks, who was not wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene of the noon crash. A passenger in his vehicle, 38-year old Shannon Applin, and the driver of the Mack truck, Roy F. Harden, 57, of Navarre, were both transported to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by Alabama State Troopers.
Much Colder Tonight
February 13, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 60. Light northwest wind becoming north 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 21. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 59. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 34.
- Washington’s Birthday: Partly sunny, with a high near 64.
- Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.
- Tuesday: Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.
- Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 64.
Century Cracking Down On Late Paying Water, Sewer Customers
February 13, 2013
The Town of Century is cracking down on residents who don’t pay up for their water and sewer service on time.
“I have been real lenient with people,” Century Mayor Freddie McCall. But that leniency has led to 50-70 customers per month on the cutoff list, compared to just four last month for the Bratt-Davisville water system, he said.
Century water bills are currently due on receipt, with second notice and a $5 penalty on the 15th of the month and cutoffs scheduled for the 25th. Customers have been allowed to pay the cutoff penalty and earn a reprieve until the next month. The end result, McCall said, is an endless cycle of customers staying one month behind on their bills.
The extreme number of cutoffs is also taxing Century’s employees, McCall said, with four men working part of a day to cutofff unpaid water accounts and two men working for two days to restore service after payments are made.
But beginning next month, McCall said unpaid accounts as of the 24th of the month will be cutoff on the 25th, or the first business day after the 25th if it’s a holiday or weekend. Once a customer pays, a work order will be generate to reinstate service no earlier than the following day. Customers will be allowed one lifetime extension in the case of an emergency.
Finalists Named For Escambia Teacher Of The Year
February 13, 2013
The Top 5 finalists for Escambia County Teacher of the Year have been named.
They are: Randall Van Sickle, Blue Angels Elementary; Tina Grady, Hellen Caro Elementary; Susan Rigby, Pine Forest High; Debby Dorough, Pine Meadow Elementary; and Stephanie Hurst, West Florida High School.
The overall Teacher of the Year award will be announced February 28 during the 28th Annual Golden Apple Awards Banquet at New World Landing.
Convicted Felon Charged With Stealing, Pawning Gun
February 13, 2013
A convicted felon from Century is facing two felony charges after allegedly stealing a gun and later pawning it.
Joshua Duane Griffis, age 26 of North Century Boulevard, was arrested this week for possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and grand theft of a firearm for an incident back in October 2012. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $30,000 bond.
Griffis allegedly went to a residence on Green Village Road in Walnut Hill and told a person known to him that he needed to look for a cell phone charger he had left in the home. The victim, due to a medical condition, was unable to follow Griffis to the rear of the home. Griffis left the residence, telling the victim he was unable to find the phone charger.
The same day, the victim discovered his .22 caliber revolver was missing. The victim’s wife confronted Griffis. According to an arrest report, and he said that he had let a friend working offshore borrow the gun but it would be returned soon.
The victim’s wife later located the gun at State Line Pawn in Atmore where it had been pawned by Griffis, the report states. Pawn shop employees told her they would keep the firearm until she could come in and pay for it, deputies said.
Arrest Made In Christmas Eve Kidnapping, Murder
February 13, 2013
An Escambia County man has been arrested in the 2012 Christmas Eve kidnapping and murder of a Pensacola man.
Trevon Nelson, 28, was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon. He was charged with an open count of homicide, false imprisonment, four counts of false imprisonment of a child under age 13, burglary, grand theft vehicle, and evidence tampering.
“This case has been a top priority for us since the kidnapping was reported on Christmas Eve,” said Chief Chip W. Simmons. “There was a lot of time and effort that went into this investigation, and we want to thank the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, State Attorney’s Office and Gun Crime Response Team for their assistance.”
Around 2:45 a.m. December 24, Torrance Hackworth, 32, arrived at his residence at 1321 North J Street and was approached by several males who forced him into the apartment, bound him with duct tape and held him in the apartment.
One of the males awakened Hackworth’s 36-year-old girlfriend and their four children, ranging in age from four to 10, and ordered them at gunpoint into the living room. As all six residents were held hostage, the suspects ransacked the house, demanded money and stole various items, said Detective James Parsons.
When Hackworth insisted he didn’t have any money because he had bought Christmas presents for the children, the suspects said they were going to kill him. The suspects beat and struck Hackworth several times with a firearm in front of the woman and children before dragging him outside and putting him into the trunk of the woman’s vehicle which they used to flee the scene, Parsons said.
Approximately two to three hours after the abduction, the woman’s vehicle was found partially submerged at the Sanders Beach boat launch. Hackworth, who had been shot several times, was later found December 27 deceased in a vacant lot in the 1600 block of North S Street.
Nelson was identified during the investigation, and more arrests are pending, Parsons said.