Three Tate Softball Players Sign Letters of Intent
November 13, 2014
Three Tate High School Lady Aggies softball players signed their National Letter of Intent to play at the next level Wednesday.
Rachel Wright will be attending University of West Florida, Lauren Brennan will be attending Lewis University (in a suburb of Chicago, IL), and Tori Perkins will be playing at the University of Alabama Birmingham. The trio has played softball together since their T-ball days at NEP, and they were also starters on Tate’s Final Four team last year.
Pictured top: Tate’s softball signees and their parents. (front, L-R) Diana Wright, Rachel Wright, Tori Perkins, Lauren Brennan, Dorice Brennan, (back, L-R) Marty Wright, Greg Mason, Chris Mason and Mike Brennan. Pictured below: The Tate softball seniors. Pictured bottom. The individual signees and their parents. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Looking For Deputies, Will Pay For Training
November 13, 2014
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is hiring deputies, and thanks to a new Cadet Law Enforcement Student Trainee Program, the ECSO is offering to pay for training.
With the recent addition of 15 deputy positions to the budget, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is currently actively recruiting qualified deputy sheriff applicants. The Cadet Program has been designed to attract men and women that may have an interest in law enforcement but may not necessarily have the means to pay for the law enforcement academy.
Cadet applicants will be selected, hired full-time and attend the law enforcement academy. They will receive comprehensive law enforcement training while being paid and receiving benefits as a full-time employee. Once the academy is complete, applicants will take their state exam for certification. Those certified will sign a two year commitment to work full-time as a deputy sheriff for Escambia County.
A law enforcement career offers paid holidays, sick leave, annual leave, health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, free employee health clinic, 24 hour gym access and the Florida Retirement System (FRS).
“The ECSO is recruiting those unique individuals who have the aptitude and the sense of commitment to serve their community and make a difference in Escambia County,” Sheriff David Morgan said. “Our goal is to provide the highest level of professional public service to the diverse population of Escambia County. We believe we can achieve this by offering this vision to high caliber candidates in our area.”
Qualified applicants must be 21 years of age by June 30, 2015. They must also possess a GED or high school diploma, a valid driver’s license, and have the ability to complete a basic physical abilities test to advance into the hiring process. For a complete job description visit www.escambiaso.com and click on the “jobs” tab.
The Pensacola Police Department also has a Police Cadet Program for males and females ages 18 and up who want to pursue careers in law enforcement.
Cadets work a 40-hour week and are given preference in hiring at age 21 if they successfully pass all examinations required for police officer candidates. Among cadet duties are directing traffic at vehicle accident scenes, completing offense reports for minor crimes, assisting with crime prevention presentations, and fulfilling routine obligations required by various department sections.
For more information on the Pensacola Police Department’s Cadet Program, please contact Officer Lonnie Isom at 850.435.1912 or by email at LIsom@cityofpensacola.com.
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.
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.
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.