Escambia Man Gets Life In Prison For Armed Robbery
July 22, 2017
An Escambia County jury found Demeko Sims Guilty of robbery with a firearm. Immediately following the verdict, Judge Joel
Boles sentenced Sims to life in state prison as a prison releasee re-offender.
On October 17, 2015, Sims entered the Happy 7 Food Store on Lillian Hwy in Pensacola wearing a hooded camouflage jacket and patched jeans. Sims robbed the clerk with a black revolver and fled on foot. Store surveillance captured the robbery and showed that Sims was dropped off another person driving a truck.
The truck was later identified and stopped by Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies on November 2, 2015. Sims was the passenger of the truck.
A camouflage jacket was found in his seat and a black revolver was found in the passenger door pocket. A search warrant was executed at the home Sims was living in which returned the patched jeans. Later, Sims was interviewed by investigators and confessed to the robbery.
Pickup Destroyed By Fire (With Photo Gallery)
July 22, 2017
Fire destroyed a pickup truck Saturday in the 700 block of Jacks Branch Road. There were no injuries reported.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Sentenced For Aggravated Assault Of Deputy
July 22, 2017
An Escambia County Jury found Carlos Lamar Warren, Jr., guilty of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. Immediately following the verdict, Circuit Judge Gary Bergosh sentenced Warren to a maximum sentence of 15 years in state prison.
On December 11, 2015, Deputies Craft, Kamau, Melton, and Sgt. Brown were on bike patrol in the area of Massachusetts and Erres Blvd. About 7:40 p.m. Deputy Melton observed a white Nissan sitting in the middle of Erres Blvd. with no headlights activated.
Deputy Melton then observed a hand-to- hand transaction between the driver of the vehicle and an approaching subject. After the transaction, the driver of the Nissan made a U-turn, activated the vehicle lights, and headed in the direction of law enforcement. As law enforcement approached the vehicle, Deputy Melton stopped his bike in the path of the vehicle, illuminated himself and the cabin of the vehicle, thereby signaling to the driver to stop the vehicle.
The driver of the vehicle slowed down as it approached Deputy Melton and the other law enforcement deputies. However, once the vehicle was approximately two feet away from Deputy Melton, it accelerated, struck Deputy Melton's bike, ran a stop sign, and fled the scene. Had Deputy Melton not jumped off of his bike, he would have been struck by the vehicle. Upon viewing a photo of Mr. Warren, each deputy identified Mr. Warren as the driver who struck Deputy Melton's bike and almost struck Deputy Melton.
Elderly Atmore Couple Charged With Sex Trafficking Of Teen
July 22, 2017
An Atmore woman and her elderly boyfriend are accused of sex trafficking.
Mary Lue Daw, 66, and her boyfriend Charles Stacey, 87 are both charged with human trafficking and rape.
Court documents show Daw accepted money from Stacey in exchange for allowing him to have sex with her 13-year-old granddaughter.
Stacey persuaded the 13-year-old girl to come into a back bedroom and have sex with him for money, according to those court documents.
Stacey is also charged with promoting prostitution and enticing a child for immoral purposes
Both remain in the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton with bond set at $1 million each.
Frank Gilbert Cherry
July 22, 2017
Frank Gilbert Cherry, 73, of Cantonment, FL passed away Wednesday, July 19, 2017.
He was born in Pensacola, FL to Phillip Rexford Cherry and Madeline A. (Dutre) Cherry on December 29, 1943. He attended Catholic schools in Pensacola and served in the U.S. Navy. He humbly accepted many awards and recognitions, nationally and locally, for his dedication to helping people. At NADEP in Pensacola, FL he began an employment program for the developmentally disabled, attended the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act in Washington, D.C., moving on to be the Executive Director of the Center for Independent Living of NW Florida (now CIL Disability Resource Center) for 23 years.
In addition to his many accomplishments, he was recently appointed to the Florida Independent Living Council to which he wanted to take his ideas for furthering the welfare of people with disabilities. And for 30 years he was the caller and instructor for the Pensacola Special Steppers, a group of proud square dancers with developmental disabilities. He participated in many functions of ARC Gateway for 52 years.
He was a member of the Men of St. Joseph, 4th Degree Knight of Columbus and a Special Minister of Holy Communion at St. Anne Catholic Church, Bellview, FL.
He is preceded in death by his daughter, Paula Lynn Cherry.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 54 years, Nancy M. (Schuldt) Cherry; children, Janet M. Cherry, David B. Cherry and Jason P. Cherry; two brothers, Dennis A. Cherry (Sandra) of Fairfax, VA and Donald A. Aguiar (Marybelle) of Livermore, CA, numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, he kindly requested memorials to ARC Gateway for Group Homes, 3932 N. 10th Avenue, Pensacola, FL 32504 and to St. Anne Catholic Church, 5200 Saufley Field Rd, Pensacola, FL 32526, earmarked Building Fund.
Visitation will be held at St. Anne Catholic Church Monday, July 24, 2017 beginning at 9:30 a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial to begin at 10:30 a.m. Concelebrants will be Reverend Fr. George Sammut and Reverend Fr. John Licari. Interment will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery.
Free School Supplies Available Saturday In Century
July 22, 2017
Free school supplies will be available to those in need this Saturday in Century.
The supplies will be distributed in memory of Dedria Robinson, who was killed in 2005 in an automobile accident at age 11. Organizers of the “Dedria’s Gift” program said the school supplies are available to children from Escambia County in both Florida and Alabama.
The giveaway begins at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Nadine McCaw Park (Roadside Park) on North Century Boulevard and continues until the school supplies are gone.
Pictured: A previous Dedria’s Gift school supply giveaway. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Helen Louise Rollo
July 22, 2017
Helen Louise Rollo, 85, was born January 2, 1932 in Pensacola, FL. She went home to be with the Lord on July 19, 2017.
In 1947, she married the love of her life Miles Franklin “Gus” Rollo. They traveled the United States for many years with their two sons before coming back to Pensacola to settle down and raise their children. Helen was a family woman, whose love and devotion to her family showed through the lives of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was very proud of her family and enjoyed holiday get-togethers and any chance to spend time with her loved ones. She will be missed by every one that knew her.
Helen was the beloved wife of Miles Franklin Rollo, Sr who preceded her in her death in 2002. She was the devoted mother to Miles Franklin Rollo, Jr and Thomas Dixon Rollo. Her two boys were the apple of her eye and blessed her with six grandchildren: Trey, Brendan, Chandler, Keltsey Brenizer (Rollo), Brooke Watson (Rollo) and Erienne Rollo. She was great grandmother to Kyndal, Jaxon, and Sophie Rollo, Journey Rollo, Ayden Watson and Harper Brenizer.
Helen bought Oscar’s Restaurant in the 1980’s where she, along side her husband, before his death, successfully operated it for over 30 years until retiring in September 2015.
Family and friends are welcomed to gather in honor of her life on Monday, July 24, 2017 at First Pentecostal Church located at 6500 N W St. Viewing will begin at 11:30 am with funeral service to follow at 1:00 pm. Interment will follow immediately after at Pensacola Memorial Gardens.
Wahoos Fall To Biscuits
July 22, 2017
The game was all tied up, 2-2, and then the bottom of the sixth inning happened.
That’s when the Montgomery Biscuits sent 11 batters to the plate and scored eight runs on four hits, including a grand slam to left field by right fielder Justin Williams to beat the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, 14-3, Friday at Riverwalk Stadium. Montgomery, which got 13 hits, leads the series, 2-1.
The inning started with the Biscuits loading the bases with no outs when left fielder Nathan Lukes doubled in catcher Mac James and third baseman Michael Russell to put Montgomery ahead, 4-2. Second baseman Grant Kay then reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Andrew Velazquez to score from third for a, 5-2, lead. Montgomery first baseman Joe McCarthy then hit a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Lukes to make the score, 6-2.
The Biscuits loaded the bases again when Williams, the Tampa Bay Rays No. 10 prospect, smacked his grand slam with one out for a 10-2 lead. Williams was 2-4 and now has six homers with 40 RBIs and .294 batting average.
Seven of the runs, six earned were charged to Pensacola reliever Alex Powers, but it was Jake Ehret who gave up the grand slam.
Pensacola starter Deck McGuire struggled in his 19th start, giving up two runs on four hits and five walks and striking out seven in his five innings of work.
Pensacola scored first in the first inning to go up, 1-0, when left fielder Josh VanMeter hit a two-out double to score shortstop Blake Trahan.
Montgomery went ahead, 2-1, in the third inning when DH Dalton Kelly hit a two-run homer off McGuire. It was his seventh homer of the season with four of them coming against Pensacola.
Blue Wahoos second baseman Shed Long hit a solo shot, his third homer for Pensacola, to tie the score at 2. Pensacola third baseman Nick Senzel singled in the seventh inning to score Trahan for the Blue Wahoos third and final run of the game.
Pensacola is 14-14 in the second half and fell into a first-place tie with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. Pensacola is 54-44 overall.
Grant Builds Three Pole Barns For Panhandle Equine Rescue
July 21, 2017
Three pole barns were recently constructed at Panhandle Equine Rescue in Cantonment thanks to a $5,000 grant from the Melba Bayers Meyer Charitable Trust through Wells Fargo.
“They will provide much needed additional shelter for the rescue horses. We were able to extend an existing barn and add two new ones. The third barn will serve as a shelter for veterinarians and farriers and will include a stock, scale and wash rack,” said PER President Diane Lowery.
Lowery said donations received from a GoFundMe account were also included to fund the three shelters.
“We are so grateful to our generous donors and to Melba Bayers Meyer Charitable Trust for making it possible to achieve these goals. The horses are enjoying the shade and protection from the rain,” she said.
The only horse rescue in Escambia County, PER was founded by a small group of concerned citizens with a mission to rescue, rehabilitate and provide adoption services for abused, neglected and abandoned equines. PER is authorized by the court system to investigate equine cruelty in Escambia County.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century To Begin Budget Setting Process
July 21, 2017
Century will begin their budget setting process with workshop meetings August 10 and August 24.
In previous years, the town council has held budget workshop meetings much earlier. During the past couple of years, the town has held two budget workshops in June, followed by one or two meetings to complete the process in July.
Both the August 10 and August 24 meetings will be held in the council chambers at the Century Town Hall at 7995 North Century Boulevard. The meetings are open to the public.
The fiscal year 2016-2017 budget in Century was $4.26 million.
NorthEscambia.com photos,click to enlarge.