A Mom Remembers Her Daughter As Search Continues For Molino Woman’s Killer
May 1, 2021
“You left us too soon. Not by fault of your own. Caught unsuspecting, while jogging alone. Wickedness consumed him and a heart full of rage felled you, silenced you, sent you to your grave.”
Those are the words of Sue Brown as she remembered the murder of her daughter Anna Louise Brown. Friday marked four years since Anna was found shot and killed on Gibson Road off Crabtree Church Road in Molino. Her family is hoping for closure and the arrest of a suspect.
Brown, 38, was pronounced deceased at the scene; her body was discovered face down by the roadway.
Investigators believe the murder was not a random act of violence, and they believe Brown knew the person that killed her. No suspect has been named by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
“We mourn you, we miss you, tears readily fall. Shared secrets we have but not really, not at all. Hearts of hope have we, to see you in the Great Halls,” Brown continued in a poem she penned in her daughter’s memory. “One day, with rejoicing we’ll see you in heaven, for all eternity.”
When Anna joined a class at Hamilton Baptist Church in Robertsdale before her death, she as asked to write down something about her life.
“I am … doing life as a working, blessed Mom of two amazing children,” Anna wrote. “I love being a mom! There are moments and days and situations that are tough and rough and painful and challenging and hard; but the joy of loving and having the privilege to nurture and teach my kids is a gift. I know they are each God’s first, and that helps me worry less when they are away,” Anna wrote. “I work as a Physical Therapist Assistant … I love doing therapy!”
She continued, “I have a great family. I have wonderful parents and I have a growing relationship with my Creator, my Lord, my salvation, my strength, provider, comforter and friend. With my natural family and my church family, I am never alone or separated. I receive love and support and physical, tangible help when it’s needed. That support and encouragement makes single parenting not so single! Yay!”
Anyone with information on the murder is asked to contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or call Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Below: NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Nine Mile Road Traffic Shifted Between Allegheny And Navy Federal Way
May 1, 2021
The Nine Mile Road westbound travel lanes, between Allegheny Avenue and Navy Federal Way, were shifted to the newly constructed westbound lanes by Friday morning.
The section between Security Place and Navy Federal Way remains one lane westbound to provide a safe area for crews to construct the remaining median work.
In the first photo shows drivers using the new outside westbound lane between Security Place and Navy Federal Way.
The photo below shows traffic using both westbound lanes opened between the new Beulah Middle School and Security Place. Eastbound traffic will remain in one lane as the remaining median work is completed.
This traffic shift allows crews to complete the new median and inside eastbound left turn lanes.
Traffic is expected to remain in this configuration until this summer.
The work is part of a $46 million effort to widen and improve Nine Mile Road from Beulah Road to Pine Forest Road. Once completed, the project will enhance safety, improve mobility, and reduce congestion for the estimated 19,000 drivers who travel the roadway daily.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Winning $112K Fantasy Five Ticket Sold On Pine Forest Road
May 1, 2021
Someone is over $112,000 richer this morning after purchasing a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket at a Pine Forest Road convenience store.
The ticket sold at the Raceway on Pine Forest Road near I-10 was one of two winning tickets sold for Friday night’s drawing and is worth $112,367.87. The other winning ticket was sold in Tampa.
The 318 tickets matching four numbers won $113.50 each. Another 10,172 tickets matching three numbers are worth $9.50 each, and 98,998 ticket holders won a Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
Tuesday’s winning numbers were 05-15-17-21-36.
Female And Young Child Injured In Oak Grove Wreck
May 1, 2021
A female driver and a young child were injured in a single vehicle wreck Friday in Oak Grove.
The crash happened on North Highway 99 at the Oak Grove Cemetery when she lost control of a pickup truck and ran off the roadway.
The female and the 4-year old were transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS. Their injuries were not considered serious.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released any more information. Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High School Names Students Of The Month
May 1, 2021
Tate High School recently named students of the month.
For February, the students of the month were Tucker Philley and Brianna Deason (pictured below).
For March, the students of the month were Caleb Strickland and Shelby Lollie (pictured above).
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County High School Mourns Loss Of Coach
May 1, 2021
The Atmore community is mourning the loss of a beloved coach.
Escambia County High School Boys basketball coach John Shears, 44, has passed away at his Mobile home. He was also an offensive coordinator for the Blue Devils football team and a physical education teacher.
“Thoughts and prayers go out to his family and all who loved him,” the school said in a statement. “Rest in Heaven Coach Shears.”
Counselors have been made available to ECHS students.
Funeral services have not yet been announced.
Escambia County Self-Reports Sunshine Law Violation By Library Board To State Attorney
April 30, 2021
Escambia County has self-reported a Sunshine Law violation by the library board to the State Attorney’s Office.
For now, prosecutors won’t take any action against four members of the West Florida Public Libraries Board of Governance for a meeting they held Monday in Century.
“We are not taking any action at this point, but there clearly was an apparent violation,”Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille told NorthEscambia.com Thursday afternoon.
The meeting was advertised for the Main Library downtown, not Century. Florida’s Sunshine Law requires that adequate public notice be given for public meetings, including time and the correct location. When NorthEscambia.com notified the board of the discrepancy in the legal notice, the board continued the meeting for a short period of time. And that, according to the State Attorney’s Office, is where they went wrong.
“It was accidental and unintentional, but the meeting should not have gone forward once they learned of the problem,” Marcille said. He added the county “will correct any issues created by the meeting and the manner in which it was held,” and hold additional training.
Escambia County Attorney Alison Rogers confirmed Thursday night that she is sending an assistant county attorney to the next WFPL Board of Governance meeting to provide a Sunshine Law refresher lesson.
For more about Monday’s meeting, click or tap here for an earlier story.
Pictured top: West Florida Public Libraries Director Todd Humble (far left), and Board of Governance members (L-R) Robin Reshard, Grace Buenatista, and Bradley Vinson during a meeting Monday afternoon at the Century Branch Library. Pictured inset: Humble, with board member Dr. Laura Bryant in the background. Pictured below: Reshard and Bryant remained the Century Branch Library parking lot at 6:33 p.m. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Bay Bridge Opening Still Planned For Week Of May 31, FDOT Says
April 30, 2021
With just over a month left to finish the job, the Florida Department of Transportation says the Pensacola Bay Bridge will open with at least two lanes of traffic by the week of May 31.
FDOT contractors have completed the installation of multiple stay-in-place forms and are currently pouring and leveling concrete on the bridge. Following the completion of the concrete pours on the bridge deck, crews will construct barrier walls designed to create a reinforced, protective wall for motorists traveling over the bridge. Additional work will include the installation of electrical conduit and roadway striping.
“The targeted reopening of the bridge remains the week of May 31, 2021. FDOT is regularly reviewing the contractor’s schedule of the entire Pensacola Bay Bridge Project with the anticipated completion date for all improvements currently scheduled for January 2022,” FDOT said Thursday afternoon.
Motorists should continue to use all available detour routes, which include the Garcon Point Bridge and State Road 87. At this time, tolls on the Garcon Point Bridge are suspended through Sunday, May 9, 2021. Commuters can also use the Escambia County Area Transit’s (ECAT) temporary bus route travel between Pensacola and Gulf Breeze free of charge.
Jay Man Charged With Pistol Whipping Woman During Escambia Armed Burglary
April 30, 2021
A Jay man has been charged after allegedly breaking into a home, pointing a gun at a woman, and pistol whipping her.
Darrell D. Gandy, 35, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, battery with a deadly weapon and armed burglary of an occupied residence.
Gandy allegedly forced his way into a residence on Bush Street.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office she was inside her residence when she was attacked by a man she did not personally know, but she said the man knows her wife. The victim said Gandy pulled a gun from his waistband and pointed it at her. He then approached her, pistol whipped her across her forehead, and then slammed her against the living room wall, according to an arrest report. He then ran from the home.
The victim’s wife witnessed the incident and corroborated the victim’s statements. She stated she recognized the suspect immediately as Gandy, a family friend.
Gandy remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
ECSO: Man Beat Woman With Chair For 30 Minutes, Punched Deputy In The Face
April 30, 2021
An Escambia County man beat a woman with a chair for half an hour and punched a responding deputy in the face, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Cornelious Williams, 47, is charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence and aggravated battery in a domestic violence situation.
About 6:40 Thursday morning, ECSO deputies responded to a man down call in the 700-block of Yonge Street. Once on scene, deputies found a female victim severely beaten and in the middle of the road. The domestic violence occurred inside a nearby home, where the victim was beaten with a chair for 30 minutes, deputies said.
The woman was rushed to a local hospital for treatment.
Deputies found Williams inside the home.
“Williams punched a deputy in the face while resisting arrest; however, he was taken into custody,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
Williams was booked into the Escambia County Jail with no bond.