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.
American Diabetes Month: Floridians Impacted In Large Numbers
November 11, 2014
November is American Diabetes Month. As the prevalence of the disease continues to rise across the state and nation, the number of Floridians with diabetes is expected to increase.
David Becker, a spokesman for the American Diabetes Association, says the latest numbers show 29 million Americans with diabetes, and the toll on health can be great, including kidney failure, blindness, amputations and more.
“There are a lot of co-morbid diseases as far as diabetes and cancer and heart disease,” he points out. “It all kind of is interrelating.”
Becker says about 95 percent of those people who have diabetes have Type 2, which healthier lifestyle choices with nutrition and physical activity can help prevent.
In Florida a little more than 1.7 million have diabetes, but that is expected to increase to nearly three million by 2030, according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Becker notes that even some simple, small changes with healthy eating and regular exercise can yield big results. “If you lose just 7 percent of your body weight, you can decrease your chances of getting diabetes by 58 percent,” he stresses.
If the current trends don’t change, it’s estimated that by 2050, 30 percent of all Americans will have diabetes.
by The Florida News Connection
Energy Workshop To Be Held For Small Busineses, Ag Producers
November 11, 2014
Escambia County Extension, Santa Rosa Extension and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (UF/IFAS) will host a energy workshop prestened by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development, Florida Department of Energy and Power South Energy Cooperative. The primary focus of this workshop is to notify local small businesses and agricultural producers of grant opportunities.
The workshop will be held at the Jay Community Center, 5259 Booker Lane, on Tuesday, November 18, from 12 to 3 p.m. Lunch will be provided. Registration will begin at 11:30 a.m. RSVP to Sabrina Owens at (800) 235-3848 ext: 7433 or sabrina@erec.com or Dewanna Smith at USDA Rural Development at (850) 526-2610 ext: 110 or dewanna.smith@fl.usda.gov.
Two Sentenced To Life For Christmas Eve Murder
November 10, 2014
Two Escambia County men have been convicted of a Christmas Eve 2012 murder.
According to State Attorney Bill Eddins, Deontrez Kitt and Anthony Wilson Jr. were each convicted after a five-day trial of first degree felony murder and armed burglary of a dwelling. Following the verdict, Circuit Judge Jan Shackelford sentenced both Kitt and Wilson to life in prison on both counts.
On Christmas Eve 2012, Deontrez Kitt, Anthony Wilson, Jr., Deavis Saulsberry, and Trevon Nelson kidnapped and killed Torrance Hackworth. All four defendants entered the home of Torrance Hackworth in the Morris Court apartment complex in a home invasion. When they were not satisfied with what they found in the home, they bound Hackworth, took him from the home, threw him in the trunk of a car, and drove off with him. Several blocks later, Hackworth was able to escape from the trunk. He was then chased down and shot to death. The stolen car used to transport Hackworth was then dumped in Pensacola Bay.
The four defendants were identified by eyewitnesses, DNA, and other forensic evidence. Saulsberry was convicted by a jury in July 2014 of the same charges and sentenced to life in prison. Nelson pled to second degree murder and armed burglary of a dwelling. Nelson testified against Kitt, Wilson and Saulsberry. Nelson will be sentenced November 18 where he faces up to a life sentence.