Former Alabama Middle School Assistant Principal Charged With Torture, Willful Child Abuse
September 5, 2019
The former assistant principal at W.S. Neal Middle School in East Brewton has been charged with torture and willful abuse of a child.
Donald Eugene Hardyman Jr., age 56, was indicted by an Escambia County grand jury and booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton. He was released on a $25,000 bond.
The indicted followed an investigation by the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Heath Jackson said his agency was called to the Escambia County (AL) Board of Education to investigate an altercation involving Hardyman and a student. The results of that investigation were then turned over to a grand jury for indictment.
Jackson said the investigation is ongoing.
Hardyman has resigned from W.S. Neal Middle School.
Man Passes Away Following Nokomis Crash; His Dog Uninjured
September 5, 2019
A Bay Minette man has passed away as the result of injuries he suffered in a single vehicle crash last week in extreme northwestern Escambia County just south of the Alabama-Florida state line.
Melvin Leonce Carpenter, 74, was northbound on North Pineville Road through a canopy of trees on August 29 when for an unknown reason he traveled off the southbound shoulder and struck multiple trees, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Carpenter was transported by Escambia County EMS to Atmore Community Hospital, transferred to a medical helicopter and airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital.
He passed away August 30 at Sacred Heart Hospital, Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Robert Cannon told NorthEscambia.com on Wednesday. The FHP ws not immediately notified of Carpenter’s passing, leading to the delayed report.
Carpenter’s dog was also inside the vehicle and was not injured.
Firefighters from Escambia Fire Rescue, the Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department and Atmore Fire Department also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Elm Street In Century Closed Due To Collapsed Culvert
September 5, 2019
Elm Street in Century was closed after the collapse of a culvert under the roadway.
Elm is closed from west of Highway 29 to Jeter Lane. Repairs are underway, but an anticipated completion date has not been announced.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sunny And Hot: Upper 90s, No Chance Of Rain
September 5, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia are forecast:
Thursday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Heat index values as high as 105. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 69. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 95. Light northwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 69. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.
Pictured: Wednesday’s sunset in McDavid. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Ray D. Landis
September 5, 2019
Ray D. Landis, 82, of Souderton, PA went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, September 5, 2019, at Souderton Mennonite Homes.
He was the loving husband of Celia N. Landis for 55 years. Ray was born in Souderton, Pennsylvania to the late Alvin F. Landis and the late Edith (Derstine) Landis.
He graduated from Souderton Area High School, class of 1944. Ray attended Pierce Business School. He worked as a business clerk for Moyer & Son in Souderton, as a business administrator for Elvin R. Souder Law Office in Souderton, in the business management department at Aibonito Mennonite Hospital in Aibonito, Puerto Rico, as an accountant for Detweiler Hershey & Associates in Souderton, and then as a cashier and in the produce department for Landis Supermarket in Telford.
Ray was a member of Franconia Mennonite Church where he served as a youth leader. He was a missionary pastor in Puerto Rico for nine years and was involved in local church planting. Ray was a member of First Mennonite Church in Norristown where he was involved in the Spanish ministry and later became a member of Perkiomenville Mennonite Church. Throughout his ministry, he always served as a song leader and Sunday school teacher. Ray also sang with the Franconia Lancaster Choral Singers and the Zion Choral Society for many years.
He volunteered his time at the Souderton Mennonite Homes by reading the Bible and singing with the residents.
Ray loved spending time with his family. He was an avid reader and student of the Bible and enjoyed creating weekly flower arrangements for the Perkiomenville Mennonite Church. Ray was very passionate about music and singing. A highlight in his life was when he sang with his family as the “Landis Family Singers” and they took a three week trip to Puerto Rico where they sang in 13 different Mennonite churches. He enjoyed flowers and gardening and was awarded many ribbons for his horticultural entries. Ray enjoyed photography and visiting and singing to the elderly.
He was a devoted husband, wonderful father, and loving grandfather and great-grandfather. Although reserved, Ray was a faithful and loyal servant especially to the church. He was a hardworking, principled, creative, and intelligent man.
In addition to his wife, Ray is survived by his five children, E. Keila Goshow and husband, Michael of Hatfield, PA, David R. Landis and wife, Deborah of Atmore, AL , Ruth N. Janton and husband, Jeffrey of Pennsburg, PA, Alvin R. Landis and wife, Dawn of Telford, PA, and Rachel A. Stinedurf and husband, Paul of Clio, MI; his 19 grandchildren – Tirsa, Tori, Micah, Diana, David, Darren, Monica, Veronica, Natalie, Valerie, Josiah, Esther, Anna, Samuel, Faith, Montague, Maxwell, Morgan, and Paige; seven great-grandchildren – Hayden, Sydney, Jax, Daisy, Tommy, Zeke, and Joy; his sister, Charlotte Landis of Harleysville, PA; and his brother, David Landis and wife, Sharon of Harleysville, PA.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Darla Joy Landis and his sister, June Ruth.
A viewing will be held on Monday, September 9, 2019, at Perkiomenville Mennonite Church, 1836 Gravel Pike, Perkiomenville, Pennsylvania 18074 from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m.
Burial will take place at Perkiomenville Mennonite Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to: You Are Beautiful Fund c/o Grace Fellowship, 1412 E Nashville Avenue, Atmore, AL 36502. This is a ministry for special needs children in Sierra Leone, Africa. Please make checks payable to Grace Fellowship with a separate note stating that it is for the You Are Beautiful Fund.
Arrangements by Anders-Detweiler Funeral Home & Crematory, 130 East Broad Street, Souderton, Pennsylvania 18964. To send online condolences to the family, visit www.andersfh.com
Hurricane Dorian Latest Updates, No Local Impacts
September 5, 2019
No local impacts are expected from Hurricane Dorian, according to the National Weather Service in Mobile.
The latest information on Dorian is in the graphics on this page.
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Man Injured When Lawnmower Overturns On Him In Ditch
September 4, 2019
A man was injured Wednesday when a lawnmower overturned on top of him.
It happened on Mozingo Lane off Airway Drive, just south of Nine Mile Road.
The man, who was working for a lawn service, was mowing along the top of a ditch on Mozingo Lane when the mower overturned, trapping him underneath, according to Amber Southard, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Southard said the man was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. At last report, he was in critical condition.
The ditch was estimated to be about six feet deep.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Settles Frontier Communications Phone Bill Due Since 2015
September 4, 2019
Escambia County has settled a billing dispute with local telephone company Frontier Communications involving service at the fire station in Bratt.
Frontier agreed to accept a $9,958.98 full payment on a $15,446.63 bill for the Escambia Fire Rescue Bratt fire substation on Highway 99.
In November 2018, Frontier contacted Escambia Fire Rescue to seeking full payment on a bill that had not been paid since March 2015. It was discovered that the address on the bill had been wrongly changed, and the billing statement were going to an unknown address. In the meantime, monthly charges for two business telephone phones and broadband internet service continued to accrue without payment.
The county attorney’s office said $2,119.19 of the bill was undisputed for authorized services since $2,119, and Frontier countered with an offer of a 90 day credit on the account. The parties settled on the $9,958.98 amount, and the account has billed correctly. Frontier eliminated all charges for broadband internet service.
Pictured: Frontier Communications Bratt central office (foreground) and the Escambia Fire Rescue’s Bratt substation (background). NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle Beats Snooks Christian
September 4, 2019
The 2019 Ernest Ward Eagles opened their regular season Tuesday in Walnut Hill with a 36-12 win over Snook Christian Academy of Foley.
Ernest Ward will travel to T.R. Miller on September 10 and Snook on September 24 before their next home game on October 1 against T.R. Miller.
Ernest Ward has the only middle school football team in Escambia County.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Traffic Switch To New Pensacola Bay Bridge Starts This Evening
September 4, 2019
Traffic should be flowing across the new bridge by Thursday morning.
After scheduling and canceling other dates to switch traffic to the new Pensacola Bay Bridge, the Florida Department of Transportation has announced the switch will happen Wednesday evening.
U.S. 98 eastbound traffic (Pensacola to Gulf Breeze) will be shifted to the new Pensacola Bay Bridge Wednesday evening, September 4 and U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) on Sunday, September 8.
From 8 p.m. Wednesday, and. 4 to 6 a.m. Sunday,, 17th Avenue will be closed to through traffic between Gregory Street and the CSX Railroad overpass. Drivers will be detoured using Ninth Avenue and Cervantes Street (U.S. 90). Access to the visitor’s center, boat ramp, and the Pensacola Bay Fishing Pier will be maintained for local traffic via 17th Avenue.
The temporary configuration for the new bridge will provide two lanes of east and two lanes of westbound traffic, along with a center-lane reserved for emergency vehicles. A multiuse path for pedestrians and bicyclists is expected to be operational near the end of 2019.
With all traffic shifted to the new bridge, construction crews will demolish the current bridge, complete the new westbound structure, and reconstruct the 17th Avenue interchange. All work is currently estimated for completion in mid-2021.
The planned construction activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather.