James R. Morris
November 10, 2010
James R. Morris, 68, of Molino went to be with the Lord Sunday, November 7, 2010.
He was born December 6, 1941, in Jay to Louie Morris and Leona Boyette Morris. He loved his wife and family and was a man of his word. He loved fishing, hunting, raising tropical fish and spending time with his family.
Mr. Morris is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 43 years, Donna Fields Morris; daughters, Laura Lee Morris Davidson, Jacqueline Victoria Morris Duncan, Angela Janine Morris Harley, and Melissa Wynn Morris Jennings; grandchildren, Tanner Lee Davidson, Anthony Cain, Cassie Anne Jennings Wallace, Gavin Tate Jennings, Emily Rose Linenbrink and Ashley Brianna Harley.
James R. Morris will be laid to rest on Friday, November 12, 2010, at Eastern Gate Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home with Rev. James Baker as celebrant.
The family will receive friends from noon to 1:00 p.m. for visitation with funeral services following.
Eastern Gate Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home at 1985 West Nine Mile Road in charge of arrangements.
Man Charged With DUI Manslaughter After Fatal Molino Crash
November 10, 2010
A Navarre man has been charged with DUI manslaughter following a single vehicle crash in Molino that claimed the life of a Pensacola woman Tuesday night.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, driver Terry E. Lee, 41, of Navarre was traveling on Omega Drive about 6:15 p.m. when his Toyota car left the roadway, traveled through a wooden fence and across a pasture before hitting another fence and a tree.
Lee’s passenger, Brandee N. Scott, 49, of Pensacola, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.She was reportedly impaled by a wooden board from the fence.
Lee was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by LifeFlight with what the FHP report termed minor injuries. EMS officials had called a “trauma alert” on Scott at the scene.
Wednesday afternoon, the Florida Highway Patrol charged Lee with DUI manslaughter, DUI property damage, no driver’s license, driving with license suspended resulting in death, and three counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.
Wednesday morning, Lee was arrested by the FHP on two Santa Rosa County warrants for violation of probation for driving while license suspended and narcotics violations after he reportedly walked away from the critical care unit at Sacred Heart Hospital about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday morning. He was found by an off-duty Pensacola Police Department officer in the parking lot of Cordova Mall and turned back over to the FHP. Lee was not under arrest at the time he fled the hospital, according to the FHP.
Lee’s bond was set at $106,000 on the traffic fatality related charges and no bond on the Santa Rosa County charges.
For more photos from the scene, click here.
Pictured above: One person died in this single vehicle crash Tuesday evening in Molino. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jacke Johnston Defeats Incumbent Century Councilman Hawkins
November 10, 2010
Political newcomer Jacke Johnston defeated incumbent Henry Hawkins for Century Town Council Seat 3 in Tuesday’s runoff election.
Complete but unofficial election returns show Johnston received 174 votes (55%) to Hawkins 144 votes (45%).
“I am really exited,” Johnston said Tuesday night. “I can’t wait to get in there in January and work toward getting Century back on track.”
Johnston will be one of two new members on the Century Town Council come January.
Sandra McMurray Jackson was elected to Seat 5 on the council currently held by Sharon Scott, who did not seek re-election, during the October general election. Jackson is the owner of Jackson-McMurray Funeral Services in Century. She defeated retired insurance agent Annie Carter Savage by just eight votes — 164 to 156. The narrow margin, according to Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford, was not great enough to trigger an automatic recount.
Hawkins and Johnston were forced into a runoff for the council’s Seat 3 after neither received a majority of the votes during the October general election.
Hawkins, a retired Air Force staff sergeant and GED instructor for Pensacola Junior College, received 44.55 percent of the October vote — shy of the 50 percent needed for a win. Johnston, a teacher at Byrneville Elementary School, received 32.71 percent of the vote in October, while Robert Lasher, an Edward D. Jones financial adviser, finished third with 22.74 percent.
Gary Riley, who is retired from Gulf Power, ran unopposed and was re-elected to Seat 4.
Tuesday night, Johnston thanked her volunteers and supporters for her win. “I am really thankful for the help of all those that supported me,” the 10-year Century resident said.
Area Students Take Part In All-County Choral Gala
November 10, 2010
The 2010 All-County Choral Gala was held Tuesday night at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola with several North Escambia area schools participating.
An audience of about 1,500 was on hand for the 23rd annual event which featured elementary, middle and high school All-County groups.
Students from Bratt, Molino Park and Jim Allen elementary schools and Ernest Ward and Ransom Middle schools were among the dozens of students selected to participate in the program that featured music ranging from classic to contemporary.
North Escambia area students participating included:
Jim Allen Elementary: Demerie Caro, Kayla Guilford, Paige Owen, Emily Rohde, Alexya Taylor. Greg Sexton and John McDonald, educators.
Bratt Elementary: Alayna Brown, Taniya Fletcher, Logan Hall, Haven Shores. Emily Pollard, educator.
Molino Park Elementary: Tapanga Johnson, Trista Lorenzana, Seth Parker, Evan Till. Twinette McDonald, educator.
Ernest Ward Middle School: Penny Banda, Amy Branch, Diamonique Brown, Breanna Campbell, Holly Cofield, Aaliyah Creamer, Sarah Dutton, Desiree Elliard, Nathan Hawthorne, Haley Maddox, Amy Murph, Ashley Rainbolt, Elizabeth Sanders, Brittany Victor, Jasmine Walker, Shania Ward, Joselynn Wiedel, Hadley Woodfin. Charles Tucker, educator.
Ransom Middle School: Matthew Baillie, Shelby Becker, Lindsey Beckham, Tiffany Butler, Hannah Carpenter, Allison Cramer, Tyler Debord, Harlie Diamond, Cherry Eddy, Tayler Garciano, Jamie Hendren, Miranda Holt, Kimberly Howard, Coles Johnson, Tori Kent, Olivia Martin, Shelby Penton, Courtney Sonnier, Jordan Summerlin, Victoria Teague, Alley Vansoyc, Paul Vinson, Landon Williamson, Kayla Winters. Sharon Godwin and Malinda Hawks, educators.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Busted On Drug Charges After Shopping For 5 Hours At Dollar General
November 10, 2010
An area man was arrested on drug charges after he spent five hours shopping inside a Dollar General store.
Robby Edward Brown, 26, of Wilson Avenue, was booked into the Baldwin County Jail on charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, public intoxication and third degree theft of property.
Deputies responded to the Dollar General in Perdido in north Baldwin County after Brown had been in the store for five hours. According to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, Brown thought he had only been in the store for a short time period.
Brown remained in the Baldwin County Jail early Wednesday morning with bond set at $8,041.
Deputy Jeremy Cassady’s Condition Improves Following Shooting
November 10, 2010
There has been some improvement in the condition of Escambia County Deputy Jeremy Cassady who was shot during a hostage situation in Pensacola.
Family members say Cassady is sitting up and talking. He has undergone numerous surgeries, including one to remove a bullet from his side. Cassady had been in a medically induced coma.
Cassady, 36, remains Sacred Heart Hospital in stable condition after being shot by Phillip Monier, 47. Monier remains in the Escambia County Jail on $2 million bond.
Cassady was shot by Monier at the Bayview Circle home of his ex-girlfriend Jackie Rosenbloom on October 29. Cassady was struck in the side. Deputy Sam Parker was hit in the chest, and Deputy Chad Brown was hit in the arm. Parker and Brown were treated and released.
Rosenbloom, who was shot in the legs and pelvis, has been released from Sacred Heart Hospital.
Court documents show the incident begain when Monier forced his way into the home and demanded that a ring be returned.
Northview Lady Chiefs Take 2nd In Tip Off Classic
November 10, 2010
The varsity Northview Lady Chiefs basketball team finished second in a two-day Tip Off Classic at Central High School.
Northview defeated Gulf Breeze 40-28 Monday night to advance to Tuesday night’s championship game against Central. Central was coming off a Monday night win over Pensacola Christian Academy, 37-18.
In Tuesday’s championship game, the Northview Lady Chiefs fell to Central High, 32-29.
Northview’s girls will open their regular season next Monday night at Central. The junior varsity will tip off at 5:30, and the varsity hits the court at 6:30.
Submitted photo by Wayne Holland for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Care Center Veterans Honored For Service
November 10, 2010
Veterans at Century Care Center were honored this week for their services and sacrifices. During the program, sponsored by Covenant Hospice, each veteran was presented with a pin and certificate.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two Injured In School Bus Crash; 34 On Bus, Bus Driver Charged
November 10, 2010
An Escambia County School bus with 33 students was involved in a crash this afternoon in Bratt that sent two people to the hospital.
Escambia School District bus 28-06 rear-ended a pickup truck on North Highway 99 at Hall Road, according to the Florida Highway Patrol about 4:10 p.m. Bus driver Stephanie Morgan, 36, of Century was northbound on North Highway 99 when she collided with the pickup driven by Terri Muller, 50, of Pensacola. Muller had stopped for traffic turning in front of her, according to the FHP.
The bus was occupied by 33 Ernest Ward Middle and Northview High school students. Northview student Shila Reid, 15, was transported by ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital with minor injuries. Muller, the pickup truck driver, was transported to the hospital by ambulance with minor injuries.
Several other students were evaluated by EMS but not transported. Morgan was not injured.
Morgan, the bus driver, was charged with careless driving by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Multiple EMS units from Atmore Ambulance and Escambia County EMS responded to the call, along with the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue.
For more photos from the scene, click here.
Pictured above: A Northview High School student was transported to an area hospital following the crash, one of two people sent to the hospital. Pictured below: A school bus rear-ended a pickup truck Tuesday afternoon in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Caregiver Charged With Neglect Of Disabled Man, Forgery
November 10, 2010
Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced the arrest of an Escambia County personal care attendant formerly employed by Community Outreach in Escambia County.
Amanda Capers, 22, was arrested for neglecting a disabled adult under her care and forging official documents. Capers was arrested by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit with assistance from the Santa Rosa County Probation Office.
Based on information from the Florida Department of Children and Families Adult Protective Services Division, investigators discovered that Capers violated facility policy. While on duty, Capers took a resident with her to a friend’s house and permitted the disabled adult to ride on the back of a moped which collided with another moped. Due to the collision, the disabled man suffered a broken leg which required surgery.
Following the accident, Capers falsified the initial incident report, according to the Attorney General’s Office. Upon closer examination, investigators determined that Capers also falsified her driving record she had submitted when applying for the position at Community Outreach. Capers’ driver license has been suspended since 2007.
Capers was charged with one count of neglect of a disabled adult causing great bodily harm, a second-degree felony, as well as one count of forgery and one count of uttering forged documents, both third-degree felonies. If convicted on all counts, Capers faces a maximum of 25 years in prison and $20,000 in fines. The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office under the authority of the State Attorney’s Office for the First Judicial Circuit.