Troy Eugene Byrd
February 26, 2020
Mr. Troy Eugene Byrd, age 89, passed away Monday, February 24, 2020 in Fairhope, Alabama.
Mr. Byrd was a native of Oak Grove, FL and had resided in Atmore, AL for the past 64 years. He was a member of the Carney Masonic Lodge #549 of Atmore, AL and the First Baptist Church of Atmore. He was owner and operator of Troy Byrd Water Well Service, a veteran of the US Army serving in the Korean Conflict with the 101st Air Borne Screaming Eagles, retiring with over 26 years with the Army and Alabama National Guard. He was honored with the National Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Army Reserve Component with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Faithful Service Ribbon of Alabama with 2 Saint Andrews Crosses and Special Service Medal of Alabama. He is preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Jasper H. and Mary Ester Byrd; brother, Floyd Russell Byrd; granddaughter, Kandice Byrd and great grandson, Landon White.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Margaret Byrd of Atmore, AL; two sons, Ronald Eugene (Glynith) Byrd of Atmore, AL and Bobby (Lisa) Byrd of Oak Grove, FL; two daughters, Patricia Ann (David) Gibbs of Atmore, AL and Janet (Ricky) Burkette of Mobile, AL; one sister, Margie (Terry) Gartside of Orlando, FL; eleven grandchildren, Ashley (Chad) White, Lindsay (Michael) Wood, Stacey (Kevin) White, Matt Burkette, Taylor Byrd, Audrey Bryd, Kristen (Luke) McDaniel, Zach Burkette, Kayleigh Burkette, Sean (Merdith) Searls and Kevin (Pheobe) Searls; ten great grandchildren, Bryson White, Brayden White, Kinzy Wood, Kylie Wood, Hayden White, Huxley White, Hadley White, Wade McDaniel, Gage Searls and Dexter Searls; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many many friends and beloved pet, Duffy, a West Highland Terrier.
Funeral services will be held Friday, February 28, 2020 at 2:00 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will follow at the Oak Grove Cemetery with Full Military Honors.
Visitation will be held Friday, February 28, 2020 from 12:30 PM until service time at 2:00 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Matt Burkette, Zack Burkette, Chad White, Michael Wood, Kevin White and Luke McDaniel.
Honorary Pallbearers will be James Biggs, Leo Amerson, Leon Lyles, Wade Cox, Tommy Qualls and Don Long.
Inez Jinright
February 26, 2020
Inez Jinright, 84, of Cantonment FL passed away Sunday, February 24, 2020. She was born in Monticello, MS on August 17, 1935.
She was preceded in death by her husband Hayward Jinright and parents Marvin and Lizzie Lee Farmer. She is survived by her four children Gregory (Debbie), Jeffrey, Steve (Danielle) and Teresa (Roger).
grandchildren Haleigh Sullivan, Jacob Jinright, Machaela Russell, Emily Williams and Miranda Sevcik. Great- grandchildren Cayden Jinright, Kennedy Sevcik, Jackson Sevcik, Mckinley Sevcik, Ryleigh Williams, Bailey Williams and Jace Williams. Numerous nieces and nephews who she loved dearly.
Inez was a devoted Christian, wife, mother and grandmother. Her early married years were spent making a home for Hayward and their children. Together they made sure Gregory, Jeffery, Steve and Teresa had a foundation of faith and made church a priority. They wanted their children to be happy, healthy and loved. After Hayward’s death, Inez continued being actively involved in her children’s lives. As much as she loved being a mother, becoming a grandmother was one of her biggest joys in life. When she wasn’t busy spoiling her grandchildren, you could find her somewhere enjoying a cup of good coffee and conversation with friends or family.
Visitation will be Friday, February 28, 2020, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. Funeral Services will be Saturday, February 29, 2020, at 10:00 AM, at the Funeral Home. Interment will be at Bayview Memorial Park. Dr.
Will Stone, Rev. Larry Huff and Rev. Micah Gandy will be officiating.
Pallbearers will be Lamar Wiggins, Curtis Wiggins, Tyler Jackson, Kenny Phillips, Phillip White, Roger Commander.
Pensacola Police Officer Steven Grogan Passes Away After Battle With Brain Cancer
February 25, 2020
Pensacola Police Officer Stephen Grogan has passed away after battling a rare form of brain cancer.
Officer Grogan passed peacefully just before 7:00 am today at his home with his family by his side.
After being diagnosed at age 31 with glioblastoma in 2017, he underwent multiple rounds of a chemotherapy and radiation treatments. He was able to successfully recover and return to work, but in early 2019 a new tumor was found.
He was a U.S. Marine combat veteran when he joined the Pensacola Police Department in 2016. Grogan is survived by his wife Christina and two little boys.
“I’m proud of the community we live in. They showed a huge amount of concern and support to us and Officer Grogan’s family, and it is appreciated more than they can ever know,” Police Chief Tommi Lyter said.
Mayor Grover Robinson said “I was deeply saddened to learn of Officer Grogan’s passing this morning. It was truly an honor to know him, and to witness his dedication to his family and service to the City of Pensacola. Our hearts are grieving this tremendous loss along with Officer Grogan’s family, the Pensacola Police Department, and the entire community.”
Funeral services and other arrangements have not yet been announced.
To help his family, you can donate here.
Longtime Retired Alabama State Trooper Jimmy Dean Passes Away
February 25, 2020
The Atmore community is mourning the loss of longtime retired state trooper James (Jimmy) Dean.
Dean passed away Saturday at the age of 53 with 25 years of service in law enforcement. He graduated from the Alabama State Trooper Academy in 1995 and retired after 22 years. Shortly after his retirement, he continued to serve his community as a Poarch Creek Indian Tribal police officer.
He was a 1984 graduate of Escambia County High School in Atmore, where he was a member of the 1983 state championship football team. He pursued a collegiate baseball career that began at Patrick Henry Junior College, where he led the team in hitting his freshman year. He then transferred to the University of Montevallo for a short time before finishing his career at Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) where he was named Offensive Player of the Year while at AUM.
Visitation will be held Wednesday at Petty Eastside Chapel from 6-9 p.m. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. at the McCullough Christian Center with burial to follow at Serenity Garden Cemetery.
For the complete obituary, click here.
FWC Law Enforcement Report: Resident Shoots Deer In Golf Course Community
February 25, 2020
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the period ending February 6 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Specialist Clark received information of deer being shot in a residential golf course community. The complainant found two separate deer shot in her driveway four days apart.
Officer Specialist Clark and Officer Long went to the residence and talked to the homeowner. As they looked around the property, they noticed a fresh blood trail from the complainant’s residence extending across the road to one of the neighbor’s backyard. There they found a hole with fresh corn and a salt block commonly used to attract deer. There was also evidence of fresh blood trails in the property owner’s driveway.
Officers Clark and Long contacted the owner who admitted to shooting the deer and possibly another one that ran off. The subject had deer meat in a cooler outside his front door and a fresh head of a six-point buck buried by his sidewalk. The subject was cited accordingly.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
No report received for Santa Rosa county.
This report represents some events the FWC handled during the time period; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Downtown Atmore Buildings Coming Down, Being Replaced By Green Space
February 25, 2020
An Atmore bank is working to bring new life to a large portion of a downtown block.
Work is underway on the former Western Auto property and adjacent buildings at 121 South Main Street, next to the First National Bank & Trust’s main office. New green space, lights and sidewalks will be added following demolition, and remaining buildings will feature murals depicting Atmore.
“We’re bringing life and opportunities back into community spaces that have been left empty for some time,” said Greg Davis, project lead for the bank. “Transforming this historic vacant property into beautiful, open green space not only fosters growth and stronger communities but also contributes to a cleaner and healthier Atmore.”
The property is almost across the street from the historic Strand Theatre and the Atmore Hardware building that are currently undergoing renovations and restoration. (Click here for an earlier story.)
Pictured top: A drawing of plans for part of the 100 block of South Main Street in Atmore. Pictured below: The buildings that are being demolished. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Northview Softball Takes Two From Laurel Hill
February 25, 2020
The Northview Lady Chiefs defeated Laurel Hill Monday.
Varsity
Northview 16, Laurel Hill 1
Junior Varsity
Northview 5, Laurel Hill 2
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Cloudy Tonight, Sunshine For Wednesday
February 25, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph after midnight.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 53. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 30. Calm wind.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 61. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the morning.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38. West wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 62. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 38. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 65.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 69.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73.
81-Year Old Cantonment Man Charged With Indecent Exposure
February 25, 2020
An 81-year old Cantonment man has been charged after allegedly exposing himself to two of his neighbors.
Harvey Edward Brewton, 81, was booked Sunday on two counts of indecent exposure for the incident last July. He was released on a $5,000 bond.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that she had just moved in about a week prior to the incident, and Brewton was always out in his backyard “creeping” around and trying to lure her to the fence. On the day of the incident, he called her to the fence about a limb was down, and while she was speaking with him he bent over crouched in such a way to cause his genitals to be exposed, according to an arrest report.
Brewton told deputies it was an accident.
Another neighbor told deputies that Brewton had exposed himself to her multiple times. Her age is not listed in the reported, but it does sa she told her parents about it.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Brewton has been listed as a suspect in four similar incidents between November 2002 and May 2019.
Additional Charges Filed Against Walnut Hill Man Accused Of Sexual Battery Of Teen Girl
February 25, 2020
Additional charges have been filed against a Walnut Hill man accused the sexual battery of a teenage girl over a four year period of time.
In January, 40-year old William Isaiah Dunsford was charged with first degree felony sexual battery on a victim over 12 but under 18 by a custodial person. Dunsford has now been charged with two additional counts of first degree felony sexual battery on a victim over 12 but under 18 by a custodial person, lewd and lascivious molestation, and one count of battery by expelling fluids.
According to the State Attorney’s Office, the additional charges were filed against Dunsford after interviewing the victim. He was released from the Escambia County Jail after posting a $212,000 bond. He is due back in court in mid-April.
The investigation began in June 2019 after the victim went to her work supervisor and asked for more hours and a later shift. When the supervisor asked why, she admitted Dunsford had been sexually assaulting her since she was 13, according to an arrest report. The employer contacted law enforcement.
The victim told investigators that Dunsford had sex with her one to two times a week. She said Dunsford tells her that he will take care of her, and when she turns 18 they will be together, according to an arrest report. The victim said multiple times that she does not want anything bad to happen to Dunsford “because she feels as though they are in a loving relationship” and she allows him to have sex with her, the report states.
“He says that he loves me and I tell it to him back,” the victim stated, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report.
The victim was confirmed to be pregnant at the time of the report last June by the Department of Children and Families, but the report does state who is the biological father of the child.
Dunsford also allegedly took multiple nude photos of the underage victim and instructed her to take photographs of herself and send them to him.