Missing Brewton Teen Found Safe In Georgia
April 1, 2016
There’s a happy ending to the nearly two month search for a teen missing from Brewton.
On Thursday, the Brewton Police Department said 16-year-old Brooke Bridges had been found safe and sound in her home state of Georgia. However, officials stressed she was not found in her hometown.
She was found thanks to tip police received on social media Thursday. Police have not confirmed if she was abducted or ran away, but they said she was ready to return to her family in Brewton.
FBI officials said their investigation into the matter is not over; there is no word yet if anyone will face in charges in the case.
Bridges had been missing since she was last seen at the family home in Brewton about 11 pm. on Sunday, February 7.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Supreme Court Sets Arguments In Slots Case
April 1, 2016
The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments June 7 in a case involving a Gadsden County horse track that could have widespread implications for pari-mutuels throughout the state.
The court will decide whether Gretna Racing, a tiny horse track with a card room west of Tallahassee operated by the Poarch Creek Indians of Atmore, should be allowed to have slot machines without the express permission of the Legislature.
The court accepted jurisdiction in the case after a split appellate court ruled in October that the track cannot have slot machines without the authorization of the Legislature, even though voters in the county approved slots in a referendum. The 1st District Court of Appeal sided with Attorney General Pam Bondi and Gov. Rick Scott’s administration and also asked the Supreme Court to weigh in on the issue of whether pari-mutuels can have slot machines if local voters approve, or if the games require the express say-so of the Legislature.
A ruling in the Gretna case could affect five other counties — Brevard, Hamilton, Lee, Palm Beach and Washington — where voters have also approved referendums authorizing slots at local pari-mutuels.
The Gretna case hinges on a semantic analysis of a 2009 law establishing eligibility for slot machines at pari-mutuels. The 2009 law, which went into effect the following year, was an expansion of a 2004 voter-approved constitutional amendment that authorized slot machines at seven existing horse and dog tracks and jai-alai frontons in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
The 2009 change allowed a Hialeah track, which wasn’t operating at the time the amendment was approved, to also operate the lucrative slots. The law in question consists of three clauses, including one that deals with counties outside of Broward and Miami-Dade.
State regulators denied the Gretna track a slots license, arguing the Department of Business and Professional Regulation was “not authorized to issue a slot machine license to a pari-mutuel facility in a county which … holds a countywide referendum to approve such machines, absent a statutory or constitutional provision enacted after July 1, 2010, authorizing such a referendum.”
Florida Lottery Warns Of Email Scam
April 1, 2016
The Florida Lottery is warning citizens of a lottery scam in which scammers are sending emails to the public in an effort to obtain personal and financial information.
The email includes the Florida Lottery logo and uses the Florida Lottery headquarters’ address as part of the letterhead. In further efforts to appear legitimate, the email references other companies, including: LinkedIn and Microsoft. The 
email states that the recipient has won a prize and should contact the listed “Contact Person” to claim his or her prize. The email asks the individual to provide general information required to claim the prize. The email does not ask the individual to pay or provide financial information, but once he or she responds to the “Contact Person”, the scammers will then request financial information and/or that a tax or fee be paid to claim the prize.
The Florida Lottery does not contact players to inform them that they have won a prize unless they have entered a promotional game or second chance drawing on the official Florida Lottery website or social media pages. Individuals who receive an email similar to the one attached should not respond to the email. For more information and to find other tips to protect yourself, please visit flalottery.com. To report a lottery scam, consumers should contact the Florida Lottery’s Division of Security at (850) 487-7730.
License Free Fishing This Weekend In Florida
April 1, 2016
Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3, will be a license–free freshwater fishing weekend for Florida residents and visitors.
Governor Rick Scott said, “License-free fishing weekends are a great way for Floridians and visitors to enjoy the fishing capital of the world and to experience every fishing opportunity Florida has to offer. I hope everyone enjoys springtime in our state and takes advantage of license-free fishing this weekend.”
“This is a great opportunity to expose new anglers to Florida’s rich fishing heritage,” said FWC Chairman Brian Yablonski. “We hope residents and visitors alike are inspired to enjoy a weekend on the water here in Florida, the Fishing Capital of the World. We want hooked fish and hooked anglers!”
This free fishing weekend is a part of the four total license-free fishing weekends the FWC offers each year. All bag limits, closed areas and size restrictions apply on these dates. To learn more about license-free fishing days, visit MyFWC.com/License.
Raymond Ernest Robinson, Jr.
April 1, 2016
Raymond Ernest Robinson, Jr, 58, of Fairhope, passed away Monday, March 28, 2016, at his residence. He was employed at Chuck Stevens Automotive as a salesman. He was born on December 9, 1957 in Crestview to the late Raymond E. and Margene Still Robinson, Sr. He was an avid fisherman.
He is preceded in death by his brother, Scott Louis Robinson.
Survivors include one son, Samuel Scott (Ruth) Robinson of Atmore; one sister, Donna Faison Rock of Daphne; two grandchildren, Mary and Lydia Robinson; two nieces, Brandi and Leia; two nephews, Jacob and Austin; one great-nephew, Jackson; and one great-niece, Anberlyn.
Memorial services were held Friday April 1, 2016, from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Bruce Hooks and Pastor Gene King officiating.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Sav-A-Life.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Rufus Hamilton Diamond
April 1, 2016
Rufus “Butch” Hamilton Diamond, age 69, of Riverview, Alabama, passed away on March 28, 2016, after a long battle with heart disease. He loved to fish, deer and turkey hunt.
He is preceded in death by his father, Guy H. Diamond Jr. and his mother, Lullene Johnson Diamond.
He is survived by two daughters, Wendy Diamond (Wally) Booker of Jay and Miranda Diamond (Mike) Stansbury of Biloxi, MS; two sons, Kevin (Christy) Diamond of Byrneville and James (Corina) Diamond of Riverview, AL; brother, Johnny Dimaond of Atmore; and numerous family members.
Funeral services were held Friday, April 1, 2016, at 11 a.m. at Jay Funeral Home with Pastor Eric Bryan officiating.
Milford E. Lassitter
April 1, 2016
Milford E. Lassitter, 84 of Atmore, passed away Wednesday, March 30, 2016, in Atmore. He was retired from the City of Atmore, as a building inspector. He was born on January 30, 1932, in Escambia County (AL) to the late Robert Jack and Ada Bell Wall Lassitter. He was a member of the First Assembly of God Church of Atmore.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Joyce M. Lassitter; and daughter, Vickie A. Lassitter.
Survivors include one granddaughter, Alece Hadley; three great-grandchildren, Ashley Wilson, Jonathon Dunigan and Brandon Stone, all of Atmore; one brother, Russell (Maxine) Lassitter of Atmore; and one sister, Shirley White of McCullough.
Services will be held Monday April 4, 2016, at 2 p.m. from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Don Davis officiating.
Interment will follow in McCullough Cemetery.
Family will receive friends, Monday April 4, 2016, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 1 p.m. until service time.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Michael Gene Tucker
April 1, 2016
Mr. Michael Gene Tucker age 51, of Sand Flat Road in Flomaton, passed away Wednesday, March 30, 2016, at his residence after a brief illness. He was a native of Milligan, TN and a former resident of Tuscaloosa before moving back to Flomaton. Mr. Tucker was a member of the Catawba Springs Baptist Church where he was active with RPM Ministry and was better known as Brother Goliath. He was a 1983 graduate of W.S. Neal High School and was a retired Marine. He was an avid Alabama fan and enjoyed fishing.
Survivors include his parents, Pat and Marie McRae of Brewton; wife, Lana Nelson Tucker of Flomaton; one son, Matthew (Good Friend Anna) Tucker of Flomaton; Ethan Pickern and Cloie Pickern.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Gary Tucker.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 2, 2016, at 10 a.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Jeff Edwards officiating.
Interment will follow in Catawba Springs Cemetery in Brewton.
Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home directing.
Roger M. Griffey
April 1, 2016
Mr. Roger M. Griffey, 60, passed away on Thursday, March 31, 2016, in Atmore.
Mr. Griffey was a native of Frisco City, Alabama and resided in Atmore most of his life. Mr. Griffey coached baseball for a number of years, worked for All-State Beverage, Gulf Distributing and Martin Construction. He attended the Friendly Holiness Church.
He is preceded in death by his brother, Roy Ladon Griffey; and father, Roy Griffey.
He is survived by his mother and step-father, Imogene and R.J. (Snuffy) Lane of Atmore; wife, Georgia McGhee Griffey of Atmore; four sons, Jason (Shannon) Griffey, Scott Griffey, Mikey (Jennifer) Griffey and Justin (Lulu) Norman, all of Atmore; two brothers, Teddy Wayne Griffey and Johnny Dale Griffey Turk, both of Mobile; three sisters, Betty Jean Griffey Hood of Gulf Breeze, Joanne Griffey Durbin of Atmore and Pamela Sue Griffey Brantley of Atmore; 17 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Monday, April 4, 2016, at 11 a.m. at the Friendly Holiness Church with Rev. Ray Ward and Rev. Joe White officiating.
Burial will follow at the Judson Creek Indian Cemetery.
Visitation will be Sunday, April 3, 2016, from 6 p.m. until service time at 11 a.m. at the Friendly Holiness Church.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.