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.
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.
Escambia School Choice Expo Planned
November 12, 2014
Parents of Escambia County students in kindergarten through tenth grade, and their student (s), are invited to hear about the choices available to local area public school students at the 2015-2016 School Choice Expo.
The Expo will be held on November 17, 2014, at 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Woodham Middle School. Displays will be available in the gymnasium and the Media Center. Families can visit every program age appropriate for their child in one place and learn how to apply for their first, second and third choice programs. Middle and high school career academies, magnet schools, and academic choice programs will be present. Staff members will also be available to help explain the online application process.
The district-wide electronic application for all middle school and high school choice programs became available on November 3, 2014, at http://www.ecsd-fl.schoolloop.com/SchoolChoice. Computers will be available during the Expo for parents who wish to prepare an application that night. This year’s deadline for online applications for the 2015-2016 school year is December 19, 2014.
The elementary level school choice programs will have staff members available at the Expo to answer questions, however, the elementary application will not be available until April 2015 (details will be distributed later to elementary school guidance counselors).
While choosing a school or an academy, it is especially important for fifth grade students moving into middle school next year, and for eighth grade students interested in a high school academy to see the options for every grade level.
Escambia County offers magnet schools, schools within a school, career academies, an academic academy, and virtual schools. More links to information about all of them can be found at http://www.ecsd-fl.schoolloop.com/ChoicePrograms. That same page has links to more information about school boundaries, school transfers, and home-schooling. High school juniors and seniors with questions about an Exit Year transfer for seniors wishing to remain at the school they already attend, should also visit the School Choice table, or call later for more information.
For families who have their choices narrowed down, but not finalized, the School Choice Expo is an outstanding opportunity to visit with teachers and staff from all of your top choices before filing your application. The application asks parents to rank their top three choices, in order, so if parents and students have any doubts about their order of preference, they are strongly encouraged to attend the School Choice Expo and to visit with representatives from the schools or programs they are considering.
In addition, for students entering eighth grade or higher, the Escambia Virtual Academy staff will be available to answer questions about the online requirement for high school graduation. For parents of students in 8th to 12th grade, beginning with students who entered grade 9 in the 2011-2012 school year, at least one course for high school credit must be completed through online learning. Escambia County offers three ways to meet the online high school course requirement. Students and parents who have not yet met this requirement are encouraged to stop by the Escambia Virtual Academy’s table for more information.
For more information about the School Choice Expo, contact the School Choice Office at 850-469-5580 between 7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. For more information about the Career Academies, contact the Workforce Education Office at 850-469-5357.
Register Now For Saturday’s In Hot Pursuit 5K
November 12, 2014
The 7th Annual In Hot Pursuit 5K run and walk is coming up at 8:00 Saturday morning on Pensacola Beach.
Register now at active.com http://bit.ly/1qufntU or download a printable form at escambiaso.com. Registration and packet pick up will take place Thursday and Friday 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Running Wild, 312 East Cervantes Street in Pensacola.
The top finishers in each age division will win a specially designed souvenir mug. The top male and female runners overall will win one-of-a-kind trophies handmade by artist Ben Boggan.
All proceeds from the race will go to support the Florida Sheriff’s Association Youth Ranches. The In Hot Pursuit 5K is sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com.
Fire Destroys Davisville Home (With Photo Gallery)
November 11, 2014
Fire totally destroyed a home on Highway 97 at Greenland Road in Davisville early Tuesday morning.
The 1700 square foot brick home was full involved and the roof had already collapsed when the first firefighters arrived on scene just after 1:00 a.m. There were no injuries reported.
The home had no electricity, and the occupants had moved out of the rental home within the past 24 hours, the homeowner told officials.
The exact cause of the blaze is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Atmore Fire Department, Atmore Ambulance and the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office responded to the blaze.
For a NorthEscambia.com exclusive photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: A home on Highway 97 at Greenland Road burns early Tuesday morning before firefighters begin to the fight the blaze. Pictured inset: A firefighters pulls a hose preparing to fight the fire. Pictured below: The very first water on the blaze. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Taylor Prefiles For Escambia School Superintendent
November 11, 2014
Monday, a Cantonment man became the first person to pre-file for the Escambia County Superintendent of Schools seat in the 2016 election.
Jim Taylor of Carmody Hill Road announced his candidacy saying, ” I think now is the time we start placing children first in education; more must be done than what is currently being done.” He is running as a Republican.
Taylor ran unsuccessfully for the Escambia County Commission District 5 seat in 2012, receiving about 10.5 percent of the vote.
Local Rotary Clubs Honor Local Military Members
November 11, 2014
Rear Adm. Mike White, commander, Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) was the guest speaker at the recent Combined Rotary Clubs of Pensacola (CROP) annual Military Appreciation Luncheon.
More than 270 personnel including Rotarians from 13 local clubs, community leaders and military members attended the event to honor and recognize local military members. Bob
Schuster, member of the Five Flags Rotary Club and assistant governor, Area 1, gave opening remarks, recognized numerous military veterans and welcomed the active duty service members in attendance to the Rotary meeting.
“The Rotary motto ‘service about self’ – is something that every sailor as well as every individual who wears a uniform shares,” said White, as he talked about the newest generation of sailors and the sacrifices they make today.
Representatives from several local Pensacola commands were honored for their contributions not only in the military workforce but also as members of the community. During the 2014 fiscal year, more than 1,600 military members volunteered their spare time to feed the hungry, tutor children, help the elderly and clean beaches. Their combined volunteer effort totaled more than 26,900 hours.
“Without any reservation, in this all volunteer force, they have chosen a lifestyle of service, dedicating themselves to the highest standards of American citizenship and commitment,” White added.
U.S Congressmen Jeff Miller gave closing remarks and said that he was grateful for the opportunity to share in the day’s events.
“It was an honor to be here today recognizing those men and women who wear the uniform both present and past,” said Miller. “Thank you for your service and selfless sacrifice.”
by Lt. Cmdr. Kate Meadows
Veterans Honored, Embassy Flag From Baghdad, Iraq Dedicated
November 11, 2014
Century Health and Rehabilitation Center held a special ceremony recently to honor those that have served and to dedicate a flag that once flew over Baghdad, Iraq.
The flag once flew over a Baghdad compound that served as a temporary embassy. Before leaving, the men took the flag with them. Major Scott Sewell, who served under the flag, gifted it to his father, Major John Sewell U.S. Army, retired. The flag was presented to Century Health and Rehabilitation Center by “Johnny” Sewell, the center’s former social services director.
The center also recognized each veteran resident, staff member and volunteer with a special pin and certificate during their patriotic program.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
