Edwin Leroy Whatley
January 26, 2020
Edwin Leroy Whatley, 75 of Bratt, FL, passed away January 20, 2020, in Pensacola, FL.
He was born in Ringgold, GA, on December 6, 1944, to the late Earnest Levell and Rose Marie Fowler Whatley. He served in the United States Navy. He was a commercial truck driver for over 47 years then later retired from White’s Pallets in Flomaton, AL. Mr. Whatley enjoyed woodworking and building birdhouses.
He is preceded in death by his parents, three brothers Ronnie Whatley, Jerry Whatley and Leon Whatley.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years Shirley Amerson Whatley of Bratt, FL; a son David (Sherri) Amerson of Enterprise, AL; a step-daughter Patricia Warnock of Coral Gables, FL, and adopted daughter Mary Ellen “Polly” Yate of Parrish, AL; brother Leabron (Revia) Whatley of Crosby, TX; two sisters Bevalon McBryar of Kingsport, TN and Pam (Joe) Hart of Ohatchee, AL; grandson Logan Pace; grandchildren and great
grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 25, 2020 at 1 p.m. at the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Ricky Hart officiating. Burial will follow in Bratt- Godwin Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Greg Hart, Ed Whatley, Everette Whatley, Mike Amerson, Steve Amerson and Clifford Amerson.
Honorary pallbearers will be the men of Hanks Road.
Visitation will be held Saturday, January 25, 2020, from 11:30 a.m. until service time at 1 p.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Whatley Family or the youth group at First Baptist Church of Bratt.
Keith Etheridge
January 26, 2020
Keith Etheridge, 57, passed away on January 21, 2020. Keith graduated from Escambia High School in 1981. He is preceded in death by his mother, Kathryn Etheridge in 2019.
Keith is survived by his father, Ray Etheridge; sisters, Vicki (Bob) Gay, and Paige Hughes; nephew, Dusty (Savanna) Gay; nieces, Whitney, (Ryan) Gray, Erica (Chris ) Bonanno; and great nieces, Alyssa, Lily, Lacey, Cambria; and great nephew, Cale.
He worked at J. M. Tate High School for 10+ years as a custodian, (Go Aggies), and served as a union representative. Keith was a loyal member of the Masons and Hadji Shrine Temple. Keith was a collector of many things. He was a avid FSU fan, even though his family are Florida Gator fans.
He had a gentle smile and a willingness to help. Keith will be sorely missed. There will be a Family and Friend gathering to be held on Thursday January 30th, 2020 at the Hadji Temple on 9 Mile Road, from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm in the Gold room.
In lieu of flowers and food please feel free to make a donation in Keith’s name to the Hadji Shrine Temple.
Virginia Bullard Hobbs
January 26, 2020
Virginia Bullard Hobbs 74, was born March 31, 1945, in Pensacola, Florida, to the late Oscar and Aline McGill Bullard. She was taken from her earthly body and greeted by her late husband, Teddy Hobbs on January 23, 2020 in Cantonment, Florida.
Virginia enjoyed fishing and being surrounded by the outdoors. She always loved the mountains. Virginia would devote thirty-six years to caring for her paralyzed husband, the love of her life. She will be missed by all who knew her and remembered for her care and compassion.
Virginia was preceded in death by her parents and beloved husband.
Left to cherish Virginia’s memories will be her two children Carey Hobbs and wife Gillian, Kimberly Lovern and husband Jeff, four grandchildren Kayla Hobbs, Nathan Lovern, Brianna Hobbs, Morgan Lovern, two step-grandchildren Makenzie Willnecker and Aubrey Willnecker, one great grandchild Hudson Payne, five siblings Donald Bullard and wife Sharon, Estherline Rhea, Dorris Boswell and husband Delton, Henry Bullard and wife Anita, Estella Leibold and husband Dennis, along with many extended family members and a host of wonderful friends.
Celebration of Life services will be held Monday, January 27, 2020 at 2:00 PM in the Eastern Gate Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will immediately follow on the grounds of Eastern Gate memorial park.
The family will be receiving guests for visitation Monday, January 27, 2020 from 1:00 PM until time of service at 2:00 PM at the funeral home.
Kathryn Louise Burkett Oglesby Thomas
January 26, 2020
Kathryn Louise Burkett Oglesby Thomas, 91, was born September 25, 1928, in Bay Manite, Alabama, to the late Robert and Ara Crabtree Burkett. She was taken from this earthly home on January 23, 2020, surrounded by family in the comfort of her daughters home in Cantonment, Florida. Kathryn loved spending time with her family and friends. She never met a stranger and always took great pride in helping others anyway she could. Kathryn retired from St. Regis Paper Co. following thirty-five years of dedicated services. She will be remembered for the fun loving and charismatic personality she possessed.
Kathryn was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband Homer Thomas, one son John T. (Tommy) Oglesby, three brothers: Bobby Burkett, Dick Burkett and Buddy Burkett, one great-granddaughter Anna Oglesby, and a son-in-law Jimmy Foley.
Left to cherish Kathryn’s beautiful memories will be her daughter Linda Foley, a special daughter-in-law Shirley Oglesby, five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, six great-great-grandchildren, one brother Pete Burkett, along with many extended family members and a host of wonderful friends.
We all loved her and will miss her greatly.
Graveside services will be held 10:00 AM, Monday, January 27, 2020 on the grounds of Eastern Gate Memorial Gardens
Shirley Marilyn Vickrey Fayard
January 26, 2020
Mrs. Shirley Marilyn Vickrey Fayard, age 81, of Atmore, AL, passed away Thursday, January 23, 2020 in Atmore.
She was born in Huxford, AL, to the late Bernard E. “Bunk” and Daisy Myrtle Kent Vickrey. She was a faithful member of Presley Street Baptist Church serving as a Sunday school teacher, pianist and member of the choir. She retired from First National Bank of Atmore after 48 years of service.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Billy Turberville; brothers, Lawrence Vickrey and Doug Vickrey.
She is survived by her husband H. Curtis Fayard of Atmore; three sons, Greg (Kelly) Turberville of Enterprise, Ala.; Mike (Terri) Fayard of Seminole, AL, and Bryan (Candace) Fayard of Flomaton, AL; two sisters. Nell Owens and Ann (Larry) Davis, all of Atmore; five grandchildren Erin, Kaylee, Cody, Emily and Curt; three great-grandchildren Arabella, Owen and Finn.
Funeral services will held Monday, January 27, 2020, at 2 p.m. at Presley Street Baptist Church with Rev. Joseph Simpson, officiating. Burial to follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Monday, January 27, 2020, from 1 p.m. until service time at 2 p.m. at Presley Street Baptist Church.
Man Killed In Single Vehicle Chumuckla Highway Crash
January 25, 2020
A 28-year old man was killed in a single vehicle wreck early Saturday morning in Santa Rosa County.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Mason Scott Tobin of Pace was traveling on Chumuckla Highway north of Willard Norris Road about 5:10 a.m.. His Chevrolet Tahoe left the roadway and traveled 107 feet before striking a large tree.
Tobin was extricated to his vehicle and airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 6:21 a.m.
DeSantis Flunks Common Core, Announces New State School Standards
January 25, 2020
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday announced a new set of education standards to replace common core, including a requirement that students meet literacy standards based upon their grade level, learn cursive and study the Constitution.
Complete details on Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking — B.E.S.T. — Standards won’t be published on the Florida Department of Education website until next week, but a summary has been made available.
The plan outline includes several major points:
- Eliminate Common Core (Florida Standards) and ensure we return to the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic.
- Provide a roadmap to make Florida’s standards number one in the nation.
- Reflect the Commissioner’s consultation with relevant stakeholders to include parents and teachers.
- Deem how to increase the quality of instructional curriculum.
- Suggest innovative ways to streamline testing.
- Equip high school graduates with a sufficient knowledge of America’s civics, particularly as reflected in the Constitution.
- Outline a pathway for Florida to be the most literate state in the nation.
The plan will remove “confusing/crazy math”, provide targeted instruction for students who struggle with reading, reinforce the the basics of arithmetic before students enter middle school and develop a plan with the goal of reducing the total amount of time students spend testing as well as reducing the total questions on assessments.
The U.S. Constitution will be introduced in the fifth grade under the B.E.S.T. Standards. All high school students will be required to take the Florida Civics Literacy Test. Financial literacy will taught in high school, unlike Common Core that did not teach the basics like balancing a checkbook.
B.E.S.T. Standards will replace state tests with the SAT or ACT, better aligning testing for college readiness.
ECSO Arrests 17 In Burglary Ring, Clearing Up 67 Cases
January 25, 2020
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has made 17 arrests since October in a burglary ring, clearing up 67 cases. Suspects ranged in age from 14 to 22.
Charges include vehicle thefts, vehicle burglaries, carjackings, armed robberies and event shootings. The burglary ring hit areas not only in Escambia County, but also Baldwin, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties.
Deputies are still looking for one additional suspect – 20-year old Salathel Hernadez (pictured).
Those charged include:
- Oreion Lane, 18
- Jacquavious Savage, 18
- Deonte Brown, 17
- Rashawn Posey, 17
- Tony McGee, 16
- Kody Gresh, 18
- Christopher Evans, 19
- Dradoni Ricks, 17
- Jalael Smith, 22
- De’Shawn English, 19
- Terrance Harris, 18
- Steven Prayer, 19
- Roy James, 18
- Jacobi Brown, 18
- Zywan Dees, 16
- Roykerria Posey 14
- Santana Chambers, 14
Anyone with information on the whereabout of Hernandez is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Escambia Man Gets 40 Months For Trying To Sell Equipment To Iran
January 25, 2020
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to 40 months in federal prison for conspiring with foreign nationals to ship technology to Iran.
James P. Meharg, 59, pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiring to sell and export power generating equipment to a recipient in Iran as well as making false statements on export documents and international money laundering. Meharg, CEO and president of Turbine Resources International, LLC, located in Pensacola, conspired with citizens of the United Kingdom and Iran to export a large turbine and parts from the United States to an Iranian recipient, in violation of the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations as well as federal criminal law.
According to the indictment, Meharg, a citizen of the United States, conspired from October 1, 2017, to June 12, 2019, to violate the embargo by attempting to export a Solar Mars 90 S turbine core engine and parts from the United States, for delivery to an end user in Iran. On April 25, 2018, the indictment alleges, Meharg sent an invoice for $500,000 to a conspirator in the United Kingdom and received two partial payments of $124,950 each, on May 7 and May 24, 2018, at least one of which was routed through a company in Dubai.
Meharg, a local U.S. citizen, admitted that he conspired from October 1, 2017, to June 12, 2019, to violate the Iranian embargo by attempting to export a Solar Mars 90 S turbine core engine and parts from the United States, for delivery to an end user in Iran. Evidence revealed that on April 25, 2018, Meharg sent an invoice for $500,000 to a conspirator in the United Kingdom and received two partial payments of $124,950 each, on May 7 and May 24, 2018, which were routed through a company in the United Arab Emirates. In total, Meharg received approximately $250,000 in funds laundered through foreign accounts as payment for having the turbine sent to Iran. Law enforcement authorities, however, were able to seize the turbine before its transatlantic journey to the end user in Iran. That end user, a conspirator in Iran, is linked to an Iranian oil, gas, and petrochemical company. Meharg also admitted to falsifying documents used to export items from the Pensacola area.
“Exporting technology to Iran is prohibited for a very good reason, and this defendant chose to put his own self-interest above the national security needs of the United States of America,” Keefe said. “This case should send a clear signal that the United States cannot and will not look the other way when one of its citizens endangers the safety of our nation and its people.”
Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg, who is a National Security Cyber Specialist, is prosecuting the case following a joint investigation by the United States Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Woman Arrested At Holman Prison With Gun, Narcotics In Her Vehicle
January 25, 2020
The Alabama Department of Corrections reports a woman was arrested with a gun and narcotics in her vehicle outside Holman Prison in Atmore.
On Saturday, January 18, at approximately 12:50 p.m., a narcotic-detection canine alerted to a vehicle on property at Holman. After a search, an ADOC investigator discovered marijuana and a handgun in the vehicle.
The driver, identified as Amelia Allen, 43, of Moundville, Alabama, was on prison property to visit an inmate. The ADOC investigator who completed the search placed Allen into custody and charged her with second-degree possession of marijuana.
“My department is fully committed to eliminating the presence of illegal contraband throughout our facilities,” said ADOC Commissioner Jeff Dunn. “Addressing this nationwide challenge in our state’s facilities is a crucial step to providing a safe, rehabilitative environment. We will continue to take this commitment seriously through regular contraband raids as well as heightened security to ensure illegal paraphernalia does not enter our facilities from external parties.”