James Hosea Wright
November 13, 2014
James Hosea Wright age 69 of Jay, finished the race and went home to be with the Lord on Monday, November 10, 2014. Jim, as he was called, was born in Tuscaloosa, AL on December 21, 1944. He graduated from Tuscaloosa County High School and went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in recreation from the University of Alabama. He was in the ministry and was preaching at the Church of Christ in Graceville, FL.
Jim is survived by his wife, Leah Crouse Wright of Jay; his son, Wyeth Wright and daughter-in-law Jona of Monroe, LA; brother, Tom Wright of Birmingham; sister, Beth Page and brother-in-law Alfred of Tuscaloosa; five grandchildren, Tyler Blackmon and Zachary Blackmon of Jay, and Braxton, Avery, and Paisley Wright of Monroe, LA; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Walton H. Wright and Mary Lou Wright of Tuscaloosa; aunt, Myrtle Harper of Tuscaloosa; and daughter, Misty Wright Herring of Jay.
Jim grew up in Tuscaloosa and became a Christian at the age of eight. He spent the next 61 years of his life serving God and helping others. Upon graduation from the University of Alabama, he became director of The Boys Club in Tuscaloosa before joining his father in the family business, Wright’s Bakery and Restaurant. He continued this for 18 years until being called into ministry and has been doing so ever since. He has touched many lives in many places and had a true heart for ministry. He was a Godly man who loved the Lord and his family more than anything. He sought to please God and honor Him throughout his life, and he did just that.
A “Celebration of His Life” will be held in his honor and memory on Friday, November 14, 2014, at Century Church of Christ, 430 E Highway 4, in Century. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. Services will follow at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the James H. Wright Memorial Fund through the United Bank of Jay.
Police: Man Used Craigslist To Solicit Sex With Escambia County Child
November 12, 2014
An Okaloosa County man has been charged after he allegedly used Craigslist to arrange a meeting in Escambia County for sex with what he thought was a 12-year old girl.
William McNeal Goode, 47, of 5851 Saratoga Drive, Crestview was charged with solicitation of a parent or legal guardian for unlawful sexual conduct, attempted lewd and lascivious battery on a minor, traveling to meet a minor for sexual purposes, and using a two-way communication device for an unlawful act.
The investigation began November 5 after the Pensacola Police Department’s Computer Crimes Unit received a complaint about someone soliciting parents via Craigslist to have sex with their children.
The investigation is continuing to determine if Goode had prior sexual contact with children.
Members of the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force participating in the investigation included the Pensacola Police Department, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Anyone having information about suspicious activity involving Goode is asked to contact the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Officer at (850) 651-7547 or the Pensacola Police Department at
(850) 435-1900
Update: Teen Passes Away From Hwy 29, Hwy 97 Crash Injuries
November 12, 2014
[Updated 11/12/14 2:50 p.m.] A Northview High School student has passed away as the result of injuries she received in a two vehicle crash at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino Friday afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Wednesday afternoon Darion T. Riley, age 16 of Molino, passed away Tuesday afternoon at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola0
The FHP said 16-year old Brayden Hubbard of Atmore pulled his 2011 Hyundai Sonata out of the parking lot of the Tom Thumb and into the median of the intersection. His view of northbound traffic was blocked by traffic stopped in the northbound turn lane of Highway 29, the FHP said. He then attempted to accelerate across the northbound lanes, but his vehicle was struck on the passenger side by a northbound 2012 Ford F250 driven by 51-year old Jeffery L. Nolen of Century.
The force of the impact pushed the Sonata onto the shoulder of Highway 29, with the pickup coming to rest against the passenger side of the car.
Riley, the front seat passenger, was trapped in the Sonata following the crash. Firefighters used a fire engine to pull the pickup away from the car, and then used the Jaws of Life to remove the car’s doors in order to free Riley.
Riley was airlifted by LifeFlight helicopter to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola in critical condition where she later succumbed to her injuries, Hubbard was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition and has since been released from the hospital.
Nolen and his passenger, 9-year old Ryder Nolen of Century, were transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital and have both been released.
Troopers said alcohol was not a factor in the crash.
Any charges in the crash are pending investigation, the FHP said.
Funeral services for Darion Taylor Riley will be held Saturday at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North in Cantonment. Visitation will be held from noon until 2 p.m., and the funeral service will follow at 2 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Freeze Watch Issued
November 12, 2014
There is a freeze watch in effect for Thursday night at lows will be around 30. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Thursday Partly sunny, with a high near 55. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. North wind around 10 mph.
- Friday Sunny, with a high near 52. North wind around 10 mph.
- Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 29. North wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday Sunny, with a high near 59. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday Night A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. East wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Sunday Night A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.
- Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 55.
- Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 32.
- Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 57.
Century Man Charged With Sawed Off Shotgun Assault
November 12, 2014
A Century man has been charged with threatening another man with a sawed-off shotgun.
Orlando Dantaus Dixon, 27, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without the intent to kill and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Wednesday morning with bond set at $40,000.
A resident of the 500 block of Hecker Road in Century reported that Dixon and two females drove by his home and yelled something. When the victim told Dixon he needed to keep going, Dixon stated “I’ll be back,” the victim told deputis. A short time later, the victim was outside his residence when Dixon returned with an older model brown and rusted sawed-off shotgun and pointed it at him and yelled obscenities, according to an arrest report.
Deputies located the vehicle and the females at the Century Quick Stop on North Century Boulevard. The females told deputies about the verbal altercation and said that Dixon drove to the Carver Community Center on Jefferson Avenue and retrieved the sawed-off shotgun from somewhere out of sight behind the building. The females affirmed that Dixon returned to Hecker Road and pointed the shotgun at the victim.
Dixon, according to his arrest report, is a convicted felon.
Woman Charged In High Speed Wreck That Killed Her Sister, Baby
November 12, 2014
[Updated] An Escambia County woman has been charged in connection with a high speed accident last April that claimed the life of her pregnant sister and unborn child.
Lindsey Eberhart, 18, was arrested for vehicular manslaughter. Her sister, Schintai Eberhart, 18, of Pensacola was ejected from the front passenger seat of a 2006 Lexus during a wreck on Brent Lane on April 12. She died at a local hospital after undergoing an emergency C-section, and her baby died soon after birth.
According to Officer Jason Browning, Eberhart was driving a vehicle westbound on Brent Lane from Ninth Avenue at a high rate of speed when she lost control and the vehicle hit a curb near Evergreen Road. The vehicle then struck a power pole and flipped a couple of times before stopping on its left Browning determined Eberhart was driving approximately 78 mph in a posted 35 mph speed zone.
Lindsey Eberhart was taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
Century’s Buck Showalter Named American League Manager Of The Year
November 12, 2014
Former Century resident Buck Showalter, Baltimore Orioles manager, was named the American League Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America on Tuesday night, putting Baltimore’s skipper in a special category following a spectacular 2014 season.
Showalter, who beat out finalists Mike Scioscia and Ned Yost, is the sixth manager to win the award three or more times and just the second — joining Tony La Russa — to do it with three different organizations. Showalter won with the Yankees in 1994 and the Rangers in 2004 and quipped he would definitely not be around in 2024 to see if the trend continues.
“I’m pretty speechless,” said Showalter on MLB Network, which unveiled the award live. “It’s such a great reflection on our organization, our ownership that has been so rock solid.”
Showalter, who took over in Baltimore in August 2010, has posted winning seasons in each of the past three years and finished runner-up to Bob Melvin for the AL Manager of the Year Award in 2012.
Showalter has 1,259 career victories in 16 seasons as a Major League manager, the third-most wins among active managers. He is 377-328 in Baltimore and the third O’s manager to be named Manager of the Year, joining Davey Johnson (1997) and Frank Robinson (1989).
Showalter’s family moved to Century in the late 1950’s. His father served as a teacher, coach and principal at Century High School for 23 year. Buck Showalter played Little League ball in a thriving program in Century, and he graduated from Century High School. Century’s modern day Showalter Park is named after him.
Courtesy Baltimore Orioles.
Pictured: A congratulatory message image tweeted Tuesday night by the Baltimore Orioles for AL Manager of the Year Buck Showalter, a former resident of Century.
Can The Yellow Jackets: Manna Food Drive Underway At Northview
November 12, 2014
A “Can the Yellow Jackets” food drive is underway at Northview High School. The Chiefs will play the Vernon Yellow Jackets in the first round of the state playoffs this Friday night. Non-perishable food items are being collected for the Manna Food Pantries during the food drive, which concludes November 17. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Blood Drive Today At Century CI; Upcoming Drives In Molino, At Tate
November 12, 2014
A blood drive will be held from 1:30 until 6: 30 p.m. today at Century Correctional Institution.
Local needs are for O Negative, B Negative and platelet donors for accidents, surgeries, cancer treatments and newborns. Persons can donate at age 16 with guardian consent. Donors must weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health. Donors will receive a wellness check, cholesterol screening and a gift of appreciation.
Upcoming blood drives will also be held Sunday, November 23 in Molino at Aldersgate United Methodist Church from 8:30 a.m. until 11:00, and at Highland Baptist Church from noon until 2:30 p.m.
And blood drives will be held at Tate High School on December 11 and 12 from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. both days.
Pictured: A blood drive was held Saturday at the the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department, netting 31 usable donations. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Six Finalists Chosen For Escambia Corrections Director Job
November 12, 2014
A committee has narrowed the list of candidates for corrections director down to six.
The current director, Gordon Pike, will be retired as of next week. His retirement date was already scheduled prior to the April 30 explosion as the Central Booking and Detention facility.
From the a 17 candidate list, the committee chose six:
- Larry Aiken — former Escambia County Sheriff’s Office chief deputy under Sheriff David Morgan, and employed currently by Edge Access, Inc.
- Tammie Booker — currently the second ranking person in the division under Pike, serving as community corrections division director
- Clifford Tebbitt — jail administrator in Scott County, Iowa
- Michael Tidwell — chief corrections deputy of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, also headed Orange County Corrections from July 2007 to November 2013
- Brett Whitlock — Escambia County jail commander
- Jesse Williams — regional director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections
The new corrections boss will run the day to day operations of the department including administrative and budgeting, and will also have the task of seeing that permanent housing is found for the inmates that were displaced by the explosion.
The six finalists will now be interviewed by the selection committee.
The selection committee is comprised of County Administrator Jack Brown, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Eric Haines, Pensacola Police Chief Chip Simmons, Trial Court Administrator Robin Wright and Richard Johnson of the Florida Model Jail Inspections group.
Pictured: The Central Booking and Detention facility following an April 30 explosion. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.