Sexual Battery Case Dismissed Against McDavid Postmaster
September 20, 2012
All charges have been dropped against the McDavid postmaster arrested last year on attempted sexual battery and false imprisonment charges.
James Bruce Lee, 51, was arrested March 2, 2011, on two outstanding state warrants served by the United States Postal Inspection Service with the assistance of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The charges were dismissed after he successfully completed a one year pretrial intervention program and paid $1,532 in court costs.
Lee’s future employment status with the United Postal Service remains undecided.
“Mr. Lee remains on our rolls in a non-pay status pending exhaustion of administrative appeals,” Stephen Seewoester, a USPS spokesman in Dallas, told NorthEscambia.com on Wednesday.
According to Postal Inspector Michael Mulder, the charges stemmed from a January 15, 2011, incident that allegedly took place inside the McDavid Post Office. A female mail carrier alleged that Lee attempted to sexually assault her inside the Main Street building.
According to the arrest warrant, the woman alleged Lee approached her from behind while she was sorting mail and began touching her all over her body. She told him to stop, at which time he complied. Later in the day, after the other carriers had left the building, Lee once again approached the carrier holding her by her hands while pulling his pants down, the carrier told investigators, before stopping when he heard a vehicle in the post office parking lot.
Lee provided a sworn written statement and interview to postal investigators; however, his statements were not released by the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Lee, who served as McDavid postmaster since January 2005, was placed on administrative leave at the time of his arrest.
Escambia SWAT Team Arrests One After Standoff
September 20, 2012
One man was arrested after Escambia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team responded to a disturbance in West Pensacola Wednesday night.
Deputies first responded to a disturbance in the 800 block of Amberwood Drive near Navy Hospital about 8:20 p.m. They determined that a battery victim was inside the home along with the suspect, identified as Lonnie Lee Galloway, 39.
Witnesses told deputies that the victim had exited the home and asked for police, and then they saw the suspect take the victim back inside the residence. When deputies were unable to make contact with anyone at the home, the SWAT team was activated.
After unsuccessful attempts to contact someone in the home, the SWAT team entered the residence about 1 a.m. Thursday. Galloway was taken into custody without incident.
Galloway was charged with battery by strangulation and remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Taking Stock In Our Children
September 20, 2012
Three Ernest Ward Middle School students are setting clear goals for their futures, and thanks to a scholarship program they know college will be a reality.
Jason Fischer, Kayla Galvan and Sabra Stewart are among 17 students across the county accepted into the Take Stock in Children scholarship program. After the seventh graders graduate high school, they will be awarded a four year tuition scholarship as long as they maintain good grades, have a record of good attendance, display good citizenship, and remain crime and drug free.
“It means I will actually get to go to college without worrying how to pay for it,” Stewart said. “I will work hard because I can’t lose it.”
Donations from community businesses, organizations, individuals and foundations are used to purchase scholarships using matching funds from the Florida Prepaid College Foundation. The program includes weekly meetings at school with a community mentor.
“I won’t have to worry about getting to go to college,” Galvan said. “I will work hard to make sure I get it.”
“It feels good to know out of high school college will be open for me,” Fischer said.
The newest Take Stock in Children scholars in Escambia County are:
- Dezmond Booker, Workman Middle School
- Daizja Brazille, Warrington Middle School
- De’Shawn Brundidge, Brown Barge Middle School
- Armelle DeLouis, Brown Barge Middle School
- Jason Fischer, Ernest Ward Middle School
- Kayla Galvan, Ernest Ward Middle School
- Latavia Grace, Bellview Middle School
- Andrew Huyhn, Pensacola High School
- Charles Johnson, Woodham Middle School
- Savon Johnson, Bailey Middle School
- Markita Sapp, Workman Middle School
- Devin Searcy, Ransom Middle School
- Sabra Stewart, Ernest Ward Middle School
- Joshua Van Fleet, Workman Middle School
- Brianna Walker, Bellview Middle School
- Zachary Wallworth, Ferry Pass Middle School
- Jammie Yeldon, Pine Forest High School
Pictured: Ernest Ward Middle School’s newest Take Stock in Children scholarship and mentoring program recipients Jason Fischer (top), Sabra Stewart (above, inset), and Kayla Galvan (below). NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Renews Economic Development Effort, Offers Business Grants
September 20, 2012
Gulf Power Company is beefing up its business development efforts through a number of new initiatives, including business grants.
The utility has recently introduced a new program that provides grants to businesses that move into buildings that have been vacant for 12 months or longer. The “Re-occupancy” incentive is designed to fill vacant storefronts by providing a grant based on the total number of square feet and the type of business.
“This is just one of our new efforts to help build strong communities in Northwest Florida,” John Hutchinson, Gulf Power’s director of Public Affairs and Economic Development said. “We are also looking at strengthening our staff and offering other incentives and efforts to help grow jobs.”
Hutchinson, who is also chairman of Florida’s Great Northwest — the region’s economic development organization — noted that Gulf Power recently provided the leadership for a trade delegation to attend the Berlin Air Show where they had made appointments with a number of companies who will be suppliers to the new Airbus aircraft manufacturing plant locating in Mobile.
“We will continue to work with our economic development partners in Northwest Florida to help our existing businesses expand and to help recruit new business,” Hutchinson said. “We have a window of opportunity with Airbus that we don’t want to miss — we want to help the region play offense when it comes to economic development.”
Molino Church Holding Open Car Show, Pinewood Derby On Saturday
September 20, 2012
Highland Baptist Church in Molino will host an Open Car Show and a Pinewood Derby Saturday.
The car show will take place from 8 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Admission is free. Registration fee is $25 with all registered vehicles receiving an entry trophy. There are 38 possible trophy awards in several categories. For more details, click here.
A Pinewood Derby race will be held at 9 a.m.
Highland Baptist Church is located at 6240 Highway 95A in Molino. For more information, call (850) 587-5174 or email info@hbcmolino.com.
Pictured: This drag racer owned by Alan Lowery will be part of a car show this Saturday at Highland Baptist Church. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Perdido Gators 16U Team Wins Battle On The Bay
September 20, 2012
The Perdido Gators 14U Softball travel team recently held tryouts for their new 16U/High School Softball Exposure Team. The new Perdido Gators 16U Exposure Team consists of girls from area schools including Northview, Jay, Tate, West Florida Tech, Pensacola Christian, Gulf Breeze and Navarre.
The new Perdido Gators competed in their first tournament this past weekend in Daphne, Ala. The Gators were undefeated throughout bracket play in the “Battle on the Bay” Tournament, bringing home the championship trophy. With the win, the Gators back to back “Battle on the Bay” Champions.
The Gators will be heading to Gulf Shores this weekend to play in the Gold Diamond Gulf Shores Exposure Tournament, and the will take part in the Troy Exposure Tournament later in October.
Members of the Perdido Gators 16U Exposure Team are (front L-R) Sydney Ezelle, Ali Cutaio, Michaela Stewart, Lauren Brennan, (back) Sara Spears, Angel Lathan, Casey McCrackin, Callan Taylor, Tori Perkins, Mallory Ryan and Kristin Gunter. Coaches (not pictured) are Mike Haveard, Eddie Ryan, Tracy Ezelle and and Jeff Cutaio. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sheriff’s Office Operation Clean Sweep Program Turns Two
September 20, 2012
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and cooperating agencies is recognizing the second anniversary of the Operation Clean Sweep program.
For the past two years, Operation Clean Sweep has worked to clean up neighborhoods while curbing crime in Escambia County neighborhoods.
The focus of “Operation Clean Sweep” is to work with Neighborhood Watch groups, residents, churches and business owners to control and prevent the damaging effects of criminal activity, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Pictured top: Operation Clean Sweep targeted the Cottage Hill community in March 2011. Pictured inset: Volunteers pick up trash during an April 2012 Clean Sweep in Cantonment. Pictured below: An arrest is made during a Clean Sweep in Century in October 2011. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County To Spray Areas In North Escambia For Mosquitoes Tonight
September 19, 2012
Escambia County Mosquito Control will conduct a “fogging mission” tonight from 6:30 until 10:00, weather permitting:
| Area 49B | North Boundary | Quintette Road |
| South Boundary | Becks Lake Road | |
| East Boundary | Ashfield Estates Road | |
| West Boundary | Highway 29 | |
| Area 51A | North Boundary | Barth Road |
| South Boundary | Quintette Road | |
| East Boundary | River Bend Road | |
| West Boundary | Highway 29 | |
| Area 52B | North Boundary | Cedar Springs Road |
| South Boundary | Barrineau Park Road | |
| East Boundary | Highway 29 | |
| West Boundary | Chalker Road |
| Area 8D | North Boundary | Lillian Highway |
| South Boundary | Highway 98 | |
| East Boundary | 60th Avenue | |
| West Boundary | Blue Angel Parkway |
Fogging mission hours vary by start and conclusion times, but generally adult mosquito pesticides are applied in the early evening hours. We ask residents to keep travel in these areas to a minimum during spray times.
For additional information or to request service, please contact the Mosquito Control Division during normal business hours at 937-2188.
Volleyball: Tate Aggies Beat The Milton Panthers Times Three
September 19, 2012
The Tate Aggies defeated the Milton Panthers in high school volleyball action Tuesday.
The Tate freshmen defeated Milton in two games, and the Tate junior varsity also downed Milton.
In varsity action, Tate defeated the Milton Panthers in four games, 24-26, 25-19, 25-18, 25-19. For the Lady Aggies, Shani Conoly had 11 kills and nine blocks; Brooke White added five aces, eight kills and two blocks, Lexi Windham had 11 digs, three kills and two blocks; and Jordan Barnett contributed 11 digs and two acres.
Photos by Hope Bonucchi for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Towns, Schools Lock In Big Savings With Inmate Labor
September 19, 2012
Inmate work crews from Century Correctional Institution are continuing to provide tens of thousands of dollars worth of labor to towns and schools in the North Escambia area.
“We could not operate without them,” Century Mayor Freddie McCall said. “We are real proud of our working relationship with the prison.”
For a small town like Century — and their small $3.1 million total budget — prisoner labor is critical. Through August 31, inmates from CCI had performed 8,532 hours of labor for the Town of Century this year, a $147,091.68 value.
The value of the inmate labor is calculated at $17.24 per hour — a figure set by the state.
About 200 inmates a day –less than 15 percent of the total inmate population — work on multiple prison works crews from Century Correctional’s Main Unit on Tedder Road and the Berrydale Forestry Camp near Jay. Dedicated crews are assigned to the Town of Century, the Town of Jay, Gulf Breeze and other entities.
Prisoners have completed 7,660 hours of labor in Jay so far this year, saving the town $132,058.40. In Gulf Breeze, prisoners have worked 13,574 hours valued at $234,015.76.
The prisoners also work in what might seem to be an unlikely location — several area schools. But they typically work on Saturdays and school holidays.
“They are never on campus on a school day when children are present,” Bratt Elementary School Principal Jeanene Hall said recently. “In fact, we close the gates when they are here to ensure there are no children that come onto the campus.”
At Bratt Elementary, prisoners completed the construction of bookshelves for the school. The materials were provided by the school while the handiwork was provided by free inmate labor, cutting the total project cost by about 90 percent.
“They did an amazing job,” Hall said, “and saved the school district money in the process.”
Inmates have completed 1,034 hours of service around Bratt Elementary, Byrneville Elementary and Northview High worth $17,826.16 this year.
McCall also said he has been pleased with the quality of labor provided by the inmates, even on tough projects.
He said earlier this year that Century paid a contractor to replace a culvert on Elm Street as his town employees and inmates observed the process. Then, Century’s employees and inmate crews replaced similar culverts on Jeter Lane and Henry Street to Department of Transportation specifications. McCall estimated the total savings to the town of Century at about $100,000 versus paying a contractor.
Pictured top and insets: Prisoners from Century Correctional Institution work earlier this year at the Nadine McCaw Park in Century. Pictured below: Bookshelves constructed by inmate work crews at Bratt Elementary School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
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