Former Fountain Correctional Officer Trainee Sentenced On Federal Drug Charges
July 3, 2021
A former corrections officer trainee has been sentenced on federal drug charges.
Tarrence Dramon Tolbert, 40, of Brewton, Alabama, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to documents filed in connection with his guilty plea, Tolbert was a corrections officer trainee at Fountain Correctional Facility in Atmore on February 24, 2020, and a supervisor observed that he was stopped on the side of the road at about 8:30 p.m.
The supervisor stopped and asked Tolbert if everything was okay, and Tolbert replied that he was waiting on a relative. The supervisor was suspicious about these circumstances, and left instructions to have Tolbert and his belongings searched when he arrived for his shift.
Investigators conducted the search as instructed, and discovered methamphetamine ice, marijuana, earbuds, a phone SIM card, cigars, two bottles of liquor and two knives, which Tolbert intended to smuggle into the prison and deliver to certain inmates.
Dr. Jim Robertson
July 3, 2021
Dr. Jim Robertson was born and raised in Miami, Florida. He was an only child but never lacked for friends as they explored all that Miami Beach had to offer. After graduating from Miami Jackson High, he headed to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Quite a weather change for a Florida cracker but when applying to Dental school he went south again.
Jim was able to get a Florida Health Department full scholarship to the Medical College of Virginia Dental School in Richmond, Virginia.
He married Carolyn Spell in 1963 and they headed to Fort Meade, Florida to pay back his scholarship by providing dental care in a rural community. Over the 58 years of marriage, they had 3 children and nine grandchildren and have lived in four different cities.
His faith in Christ was very real and his love of the church was great. He was an elder in Mcllwain and Circle PCA almost all his adult life.
Dr. James A. Robertson is survived by his wife,
Carolyn Spell Robertson; son, Craig Allan Robertson and wife, Lina Montoya Robertson, their children, Katie, Kinsey and Cameron Robertson and Manuela and Sebastian Montoya. Daughter, Tracy Robertson Black and husband Bruce A. Black, their children, Robert and Leslie Black; son, Arthur B. Robertson and wife, Janel K. Robertson, their children, Nelson and Stroud Robertson.
Dr. Jim’s niece, Kelli Spell Williams sent this remembrance of her Uncle Jim which describes him so well. “I know he is with the Lord but I miss him. He was the gentle spirit I always knew as a child and the smart kind man I knew as an adult. All those mornings he stood with his coffee looking out over the ocean at the beach house. My heart is broken.”
In lieu of flowers please make donations to Covenant Care, 5041 North 12th. Avenue, Pensacola, FL 32504 or www.choosecovenant.org. Faith Chapel Funeral Home North entrusted with arrangements.
Escambia Reports 105 New COVID-19 Cases In Last Week
July 3, 2021
There were 105 new COVID-19 cases reported Escambia County over the last week by the Florida Department of Health.
FDOH has moved from daily to weekly reports and removed the COVID-19 dashboard. The state is now releasing a weekly report with local data limited only to number of cases and positivity rate; the number of deaths by county or cases by local cities and communities has been removed.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 33,244 (+105)
Positivity Rate Last Week: 5.3%
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 18,675 (+114)
Positivity Rate Last Week: 9.1%
Statewide cases:
Florida resident cases: 2,337,613 (+15,978)
Case positivity rate: 3.8%
Deaths: 37,772 (+44)
Tate Lady Aggies Hold Annual Softball Camp (With Photo Gallery)
July 3, 2021
The Tate Lady Aggies recently hosted their annual softball camp for participants age six to eighth grade.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Francis Philip Kelly
July 3, 2021
Francis Philip Kelly passed away on Thursday, July 1, 2021 after a recent stay at Sacred Heart Hospital, Pensacola, FL.
Mr. Phil as most knew him, was a lifelong resident of Byrneville, FL. He was an active member and deacon at Bratt First Baptist Church. Mr. Philip was a 1958 Century High graduate and enlisted in the United States Army until 1961. Most of his military career was in Italy. On August 31, 1961 he married the love of his life, Wanda Sue Reid. Mr. Phil was a millwright for over 30 years and retired from Masland Carpets in Atmore, AL. He loved hunting, fishing, camping and woodworking, but most of all he loved his family and friends
Mr. Phil was preceded in death by his parents, Sylvestus and Mamie (Barrow) Kelly, three brothers, Foy (Elmer) Kelly, Robert (Maxine) Kelly and Herman (Shelia) Kelly.
He is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Wanda Sue Kelly, two daughters, Lynn (Mark) Hendricks and Amanda (Keith) Holland. There are six grandchildren, Keegan (Mallory) Lambeth, Samantha (Josh) Daugett, Rebecca Calloway, Leigha Holland, Hillary (Jesse) Floyd and Abby Hendricks. The absolute joy of his life was five great grandchildren, Lawson Lambeth, Harper Daugett, Walker Lambeth, Cason Daugett and soon to be baby girl Lambeth, with many nieces, nephews and lifelong friends.
Funeral services will be held Monday, July 5, 2021 at 1:00 Pm at the Petty-eastside Chapel Funeral Homes LLC.
Burial will follow at Byrneville United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Monday, July 5, 2021 at 12:00 PM until service time at 1:00 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes LLC.
Pallbearers will be Billy McCann, Matt Carter, Mark Carter, Danny Fuller, Mike Hanks and Bobby Holland.
Honorary pallbearers will be Bratt First Baptist Senior Sunday School Class.
Alton Ray Calloway
July 3, 2021
Mr. Alton Ray Calloway, age 75 of Brewton, AL, passed away at a Pensacola, FL health care facility.
Mr. Calloway was born and lived much of his life in Century, FL before moving to Brewton, AL in 1975. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and later worked as a heavy equipment operator for a land clearing company. He enjoyed gardening, tending to his yard, and riding motorcycles. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred W. Calloway and Lila Cofield Calloway; a son and daughter-in-law, Dennis Ray Calloway and Sandy Marie Calloway; and a sister, Shirley Waters. He was a member of Moyeville Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Edwina Calloway of Brewton, AL; two brothers, Floyd (Jackie) Calloway of Century, FL, Freddie (Tami) Calloway of Century, FL; two sisters, Sharon (Barnie) Jones of Century, FL, Renee (Ronnie) Marshall of Century, FL; two grandchildren, Christopher Andrew (Jessica) Calloway of Atmore, AL, Dennis Dylan Calloway of Flomaton, AL; two great-grandchildren, Jason Calloway and Hannah Calloway, both of Atmore, AL; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at Moyeville Baptist Church on Saturday, July 3, 2021 at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Mike Hutto officiating. Interment will follow in Moyeville Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at Moyeville Baptist Church on Saturday from 10:00 A.M. until service time at 11:00 A.M.
Chinea, Bleday Power Blue Wahoos To Win
July 3, 2021
The ball rocketed off his bat and for a brief moment Blue Wahoos catcher Chris Chinea thought of a rare career moment for any player.
He had already homered, doubled and singled Friday night in his first three plate appearances before a sellout crowd at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Amid a tie game in the eighth inning, as he factored into the Blue Wahoos’ winning rally for a 7-4 victory against the Biloxi Shuckers, Chinea sent a line drive into right field.
Could it be? Hitting the cycle for the win?
“Definitely enters the mind,” said Chinea, smiling afterward. “But I don’t have many triples in my career. I’m not the fastest guy.
“The ball has to hit off the wall in a funky way. But it definitely enters the mind when I hit it. I’m like. ‘Oh man get down the line, I’m going to shoot three (bases) no matter what.’ But it got the job done.”
For sure.
His one-out liner allowed Riley Mahan to tag up and move to third. The Blue Wahoos had runners on the corners when shortstop Galli Cribbs, laced a run-scoring single that turned into two runs when the ball was misplayed by the Shuckers rightfielder.
Peyton Burdick followed with a two-out, RBI single for a three-run lead.
Relief ace Colton Hock retired the three batters he faced in the ninth to record his 12th save. He now leads all minor league relievers for the most saves.
Just like that, the Blue Wahoos (31-21) had another late-inning win. This one followed a 52-minute rain delay to start the game.
It also happened one night after four Biloxi pitchers combined on a one-hitter in a 3-0 win to snap a nine-game losing streak. On Friday, the Blue Wahoos collected 12 hits.
It’s why Chinea reminded afterward that keeping the right perspective in baseball is so essential.
“It’s one of the days where it’s a good day and you gotta flush it (out of mind) at midnight, but I’m happy it happened,” Chinea said. “Now move on to the next page which is (Saturday).”
With the Blue Wahoos up 3-1 in the homestand, the series continues Saturday (6:05 p.m.) with a special Fourth of July weekend fireworks show to follow.
Once the game began Friday, the Blue Wahoos erased Biloxi’s 1-0 lead on Chinea’s two-run homer in the second inning.
“I was looking for a pitch to drive, kinda stay right-center with it and he threw me a fastball up-and-in and it was kinda reaction,” Chinea said. “All that (batting) cage work and (batting practice) stuff (to help) and you just got to let it happen in the games.”
From that point, Blue Wahoos starter Jeff Lindgren stayed sharp. He allowed a solo home run in the fourth inning, but worked into the seventh inning and recorded a career-high eight strikeouts in 6.2 innings.
Josh Roberson followed in relief and Hock closed out the ninth.
“Give credit to Jeff (Lindgren),” said Chinea. “Jeff ckept us in the game and pitched his butt off.
Blue Wahoos outfielder J.J. Bleday had his first multi-hit game since June 17, going 2-for-5 with a two-run homer in fifth inning. Burdick also went 2-for-5. Eight of the nine batters in the starting lineup had at least one hit.
by Bill Vilona, Blue Wahoos senior writer
ECSO Still Seeks One For Questioning In Ladarius Clardy Murder; Two Others Located
July 2, 2021
UPDATE: Nicholas Joseph Wells and Taziah Dekal McHenry have been located and are no longer wanted for questioning. Melvin Douglas Hester III is still wanted for questioning only.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is seeking three people for questioning only in the murder of former Pine Forest High School standout Ladarius Clardy.
The ECSO is looking for 20-year old Taziah Dekal McHenry, 18-year old Melvin Douglas Hestle III, and 19-year old Nicholas Joseph Wells.
If you have any information on their whereabouts or the shooting, call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Ladarius Clardy was found shot to death at the scene of a traffic crash early Thursday morning at Hollywood Avenue and Fairfield Drive. There were over 50 bullet holes in the vehicle, most in the driver’s door.
For an earlier story, click here.
Editor’s note: ECSO updated last name of one subject to Hestle.
Crews Working Today To Open Both Lanes Of Nine Mile Road Eastbound Between Beulah Road And I-10
July 2, 2021
Crews are busy today removing and replacing striping on Nine Mile Road to open both eastbound lanes between Beulah Road and I-10. Currently, both eastbound lanes are open from Security Place to I-10 and the westbound roadway is open to both lanes from Beulah Road to Navy Federal Way. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Reported Plane Crash Near Flomaton Unfounded; Low Flying Plane Will Be In The Area Next Several Days
July 2, 2021
A reported plane crash northeast of Flomaton was unfounded, and authorities say a low flying aircraft may be in the area for the next several days.
About 8:55 Friday morning, the Flomaton Police Department received a call of a possible plane down in the area of Highway 31 and Wolf Log Road at Pollard, about five miles northeast of Flomaton and Century. First responders searched the area for about an hour, and the ShandsCair 6 medical helicopter responded for an aerial search.
It was confirmed about 9:45 a.m. that the plane had not crashed, but instead was conducting aerial inspections for Alabama Power.
The plane was reported to be red and white. Authorities and NorthEscambia.com received several reports that the plane was flying just over the treetops, and it was seen over Flomaton shortly before the reported crash. The person reporting the crash stated that the plane appeared to be flying low and erratically just before they though the aircraft went down.
Officials said the plane will be continuing to fly low over the area the next several days as power line inspections continue.
NorthEscambia.com graphic. The red circle indicates the area of the reported plane crash.