Wilson Graduates From Basic Military Training
June 19, 2014
Air Force Reserve Airman 1st Class Laneikia S. Wilson graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Wilson is the daughter of Joyce and step-daughter of Roy L. Leggett, and granddaughter of Joyce E. Nicolson all of Pensacola.
She is a 2009 graduate of Tate High School.
Suspect Arrested For Robbery, Assault Of Pregnant Female Clerk; Charged With Second Robbery
June 19, 2014
Police have arrested a man they say robbed a cell phone store after punching a young pregnant female clerk in the face before taking an undisclosed amount of money.
Vincent Lavon Johnson, 41, was taken into custody in the 3000 block of North Roosevelt Street. He was charged with felony battery, strong-arm robbery and burglary. Police said he was wearing the same shorts and shoes he had on during the robbery at the time of his arrest. He was also charged with a similar crime in Escambia County.
The incident occurred around 3:15 p.m. at Boost Mobile at 5039 Bayou Boulevard, near Cordova Mall.
Officer Greg Gordon said Johnson entered the store two times. The second time he was in the business, he put his phone in his pocket, approached a counter, reached over the counter, and struck a female employee in the face.
Gordon said the Johnson then demanded the employee tell him how to open the register.
She complied and he took some money and the store phone before leaving the business. The store employee was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
When officers responded to a tip that Johnson was on Roosevelt Avenue, an officer spotted Johnson running away. He was able to evade officers, but a K-9 track by Officer James Parsons and his partner Jannus led police to a home in the 3000 block of North Roosevelt where he was found
Escambia County Robbery
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday afternoon that Johnson was also arrested on an outstanding warrant with their agency for the May 28, 2014, robbery at Happy Nick’s Store on Palafox Street.
Deputies say Johnson entered the store and began to walk behind the counter. When the clerk asked him was he needed, he punched her, knocking her to the ground. He then grabbed cash from the register and fled.
The complete unedited surveillance video from Boost Mobile, as provided by the Pensacola Police Department, is below. WARNING: Some readers may find the video disturbing.
If you do not see the video, is it because your home, work or school firewall is blocking YouTube videos.
Election Watch: Local Candidate Qualifying Week Continues
June 19, 2014
Qualifying week for candidates seeking local office is continuing.
Those qualified as of close of business Wednesday for offices are listed below. Additional candidates have pre-qualified for the positions listed but did not officially qualify as of Wednesday. Friday at noon is the last day to qualify for the offices listed.
Candidates qualified for local offices as of Wednesday are:
County Commissioner, District 2
- Ray Guillory, Democrat
- Doug Underhill, Republican
- Gene Valentino, Republican
County Commissioner, District 4
- Grover C. Robinson, Republican
- Michael Alexander Lowery, Democrat
School Board, District 1
- Jeff Bergosh
School Board, District 2
- Gerald W. Boone
School Board, District 3
- Laura Dortch Edler
- Linda Moultrie
- Charlie Nichols
ECUA, District 2
- Lois Benson, Republican
ECUA, District 4
- Dale Perkins, Republican
Santa Rosa Island Authority
- Thomas Campanella
Escambia Soil & Water Conservation District, Group 4
- Lynn L. Laird
Mayor of Pensacola
- Ashton Hayward
Pensacola City Council, District 2
- Sherri Myers
- Dennis R. Tackett
Pensacola City Council, District 4
- Larry B. Johnson
Pensacola City Council, District 6
- Brian Spener
Century Town Council, Seat 3
- Benjamin D. Boutwell
Century Town Council, Seat 4
- Gary E. Riley
Century Town Council, Seat 5
- Sandra McMurray Jackson
Fizz, Boom, Read: Summer Reading Today At Century, Molino Libraries
June 19, 2014
The Fizz, Boom, Read: Summer Reading Program continues today at library branches in Molino and Century.
Children and teens 6-12 are invited to participate in the West Florida Public Library’s 2014 Fizz, Boom, Read program, which focuses on experimenting with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics).
The interactive program is a fun way for students to keep their minds sharp throughout the summer months. Join the library for the summer reading game and interactive enrichment programs where there will be prizes for reading books, a chance to take part in science experiments and meet new people.
Century Branch
Weekly on Thursday, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
- June 19
- June 26
Molino Branch
Weekly on Thursday, 6 to 7 p.m.
- June 19
- June 26
Tryon Branch
Weekly on Tuesday, 11 a.m.
- June 24
Main Library
Weekly on Wednesday, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
- June 25
Southwest Branch – program to be at Big Lagoon State Park Amphitheater (12301 Gulf Beach Highway)
Weekly on Wednesday, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
- June 25
Florida Inmate Executed For Killing Wife, Child
June 19, 2014
John Ruthell Henry, who was convicted in the December 1985 for the murders of his estranged wife in Pasco County and her 5-year-old son in Hillsborough County, was put to death Wednesday at Florida State Prison near Starke. The execution came after a last-minute appeal was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Henry, 63, was convicted of killing Suzanne Henry, who was stabbed repeatedly in the throat with a kitchen knife after the two argued in her home over presents for her son Eugene Christian. Henry then took the boy to Hillsborough County.
Nine hours later, Henry used the same knife to kill the boy.
Juries in both counties sentenced Henry to death, though the death warrant for the execution referred only to the murder of Suzanne Henry. The murders occurred three years after Henry was released on parole for the 1975 murder of his first wife.
The execution came a day after a divided 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected arguments that the execution should be halted because of questions about whether Henry is intellectually disabled. The arguments centered on a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that found Florida had improperly used a “rigid” IQ score of 70 in determining whether Death Row inmates are intellectually disabled, a term that has replaced mentally retarded. The U.S. Supreme Court had ruled earlier that it is unconstitutional to execute people who are intellectually disabled.
Henry’s attorney pointed to a test that showed Henry’s IQ as 78 and suggested that the IQ could be as low as 73. But in a 2-1 decision, the federal appeals court said Henry did not provide adequate evidence that he might be intellectually disabled, with mental-health experts never expressing such an opinion. Also, the majority said the U.S. Supreme Court did not make its recent ruling, known as Hall v. Florida, retroactive to cases on what is known as “collateral” review.
Henry is the 18th person executed by Florida since Scott took office. Death Row inmate Eddie Wayne Davis, 45, is scheduled to be executed July 10. Davis was convicted in a Polk County case of kidnapping 11-year-old Kimberly Waters, sexually assaulting and strangling her and leaving her body in a dumpster. Davis was a former boyfriend of Waters’ mother.
by The News Service of Florida
Raymond Brenson Silcox, Sr.
June 19, 2014
Raymond Brenson Silcox, Sr., known by friends and family as Buddy, passed away on Monday, June 16, 2014.
Buddy retired from the United States Air Force after 20 years of service and was currently working at A-1 Small Engines at his time of passing.
He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Pam Silcox; two sons, Raymond Brenson (Jennifer L.) Silcox and Brandon S. Silcox; four grandchildren, Trey, Brenson, Riley and
Shayla; two sisters, Doris Miller and Brenda McDaniel; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 21, 2014, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Bro. Brian Calhoun officiating. Burial will follow in Bayview Memorial Park Cemetery.
Family will receive friends from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday, June 20, 2014 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North.
Pallbearers will be Raymond B. Silcox Jr., Brandon Silcox, Dusty Burkette , Shawn Burkette, Eddie Hicks and Tracy Hicks. Honorary pallbearer will be Mike Burkette.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
Scott Signs Bills On Alzheimer’s, Cancer Centers
June 19, 2014
Gov. Rick Scott signed a trio of health care-related bills Wednesday.
Two bills (HB 709 and HB 711) address Alzheimer’s and other memory-robbing diseases, while the third (HB 5203) creates the Florida Consortium of National Cancer Institute Centers Program at the Department of Health. The consortium will be charged with allocating money, estimated by the governor’s office at about $60 million a year, to Florida’s cancer centers.
Of the bills dealing with memory-related diseases, (HB 709) requires the Division of Emergency Management to develop a special-needs shelter program for people with such diseases, creates a grant advisory board to make funding recommendations to the state surgeon general about Alzheimer’s treatment and research, and establishes the Ed and Ethel Moore Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program within the Department of Health to fund research leading to the prevention of, or a cure for, Alzheimer’s disease. The state’s $77 billion budget includes $3 million for the Ed and Ethel Moore program.
Mary Marjorie Frazier Ellis
June 19, 2014
Mary Marjorie Frazier Ellis 77, of Fidelis, died on Tuesday, June 17, 2014, at home with her family by her side. She was born on March 26, 1937, in Brewton to Gene and Cora Frazier. She was married to Willie Green Ellis on January 23, 1953, and moved to the Fidelis community where she became a lifelong resident of Santa Rosa County. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister. She was an outstanding cook and professional cake decorator. She enjoyed family vacations, spending holidays with family and friends, reading, sewing, and teaching the word of God. She was a member, teacher and the women’s leader at the Community of Christ Church in Berrydale for over 50 years. She always put God and family first, as they were the two most important things in her life. We will all miss her dearly, but her memories will live on forever and ever until we reunite with her in heaven.
She was preceded in death by her father, Gene Frazier; mother, Cora Frazier; sisters, Lucille Cook, Mildred Sproule, Anne Mae Harden; and brother, Howard Frazier.
She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Willie Green Ellis of Fidelis; three sons, Ricky (Sherry, also like a daughter) of Fidelis, Randy (Teresa) of Berrydale, Terry (Linda) of Milton; one daughter, Jenny (Rick) Lowery of Jay; one sister, Ann (Elmo) Fillingim of Cantonment; one brother, Gene (Sara) Frazier of Brewton; and 10 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews and a special family friend, Jane Berry.
Funeral services will be Saturday, June 21, 2014, at Jay Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. followed by the service.
Burial will be held at the Community of Christ Church Cemetery in Berrydale with Jay Funeral Home directing.
Active pallbearers will be Jeremy Ellis, Jared Ellis, Bryan Ellis, Ryan Ellis, Brandon Ellis and Brad Lowery.
The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. David Smith and the entire Covenant Hospice staff for their kind and compassionate care.
Man Arrested For Shooting Pizza Delivery Driver
June 18, 2014
An Escambia County man is behind bars, charged with shooting a pizza delivery driver.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received two calls about 1:20 p.m. Wednesday — the first from a male saying that he’d been shot and needed medical attention, the second from shooting suspect David Trevor Burgess saying that he might have killed someone.
The pizza delivery driver that was shot was delivering pizza to Burgess’s roommate at a residence of Michigan Avenue. Burgess admitted to deputies that he was using acid and marijuana and does not recall the incident, which was witnessed by the roommate.
Burgess has been charged with aggravated battery, aggravated assault and deadly missiles. He being held with bond set at $80,000.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said their investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Cantonment Man Sentenced To Prison In Child Porn Case
June 18, 2014
A Cantonment man was sentenced to prison Tuesday on child pornography charges for downloading sexually explicit pictures and movies of children from the internet onto his home computer.
Jason Scott Bergen, 42, was originally charged with a total of 25 counts of possession of obscene material/child pornography in September 2013. Fifteen of those child pornography charges were dropped when Bergen entered a no contest plea to the remaining 10 charges. He was sentenced by Judge Michael Jones to five years in state prison to be followed by 10 years probation.
Agents with the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force initiated a search warrant at Bergen’s residence at 806 Chesapeake Trail in late September 20113 after he was identified via the internet as downloading child pornography.
Task force members from the Office of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Walton County Sheriff’s Department assisted the Pensacola Police Department with the investigation.
Pictured top and bottom: Law enforcement executes a search warranat the home of Jason Scott Bergen in Cantonment during September 2013. The suspect’s address, 806 Chesapeake Trail, is the house to the far right (foreground) of the bottom picture. Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
