Firefighters Respond To Smoke In Residence
November 4, 2016
Firefighters responded to smoke in a residence on Lost Creek Drive north of East Kingsfield Friday afternoon. They were able to quickly evacuate the smoke from the residence. It is believed the smoke may have originated from a kitchen appliance. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Driver Tries To Create His Own Railroad Crossing
November 4, 2016
A driver tried unsuccessfully to cross railroad tracks in Cantonment without using a paved crossing Thursday night. Witnesses said the driver of this pickup truck drove through a parking lot on Woodbury Circle before attempting the crossing and colliding with the tracks. There were no injuries. The incident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Sentenced On Federal Child Exploitation Charges
November 4, 2016
An Escambia County man has been sentenced federal prison for child exploitation crimes.
Robert M. Grafton Jr., 30, was sentenced today to 15 years and will be required to register as a sex offender. A jury convicted Grafton of attempted enticement of a minor for sex, and Grafton also pled guilty to possession of child pornography just prior to jury selection for the trial.
At trial, the government presented evidence that in May 2015, Grafton communicated online with an undercover law enforcement officer for the purpose of meeting a 12-year-old special needs child for sexual activity. Grafton was arrested when he arrived at the arranged meeting location in Pensacola. A search of his cellular telephone and digital media at his residence revealed numerous images and videos of child pornography. This included electronic folders in a hidden partition, which contained child pornography involving infants and toddlers.
“Tragically, the advantages of advanced technology also bring opportunities for child predators to contact and victimize the most vulnerable members of our communities,” said United States Attorney Canova. “Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to aggressively pursue and prosecute offenders who seek to harm children.”
“This predator attempted to target the most vulnerable in our society, a special needs child,” said Susan L. McCormick, special agent in charge of HSI Tampa. “The hard work of our HSI special agents and partners prevented him from harming a child, and our communities are safer with him behind bars.”
The case was investigated by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, Pensacola Police Department, Gulf Breeze Police Department, and other agencies that are part of the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Escambia Names New Extension Service Director
November 4, 2016
Nick Simmons has been named the new extension director and commercial livestock agent for Escambia County Extension
He joins Escambia County from Tippah County, Mississippi. With a bachelor’s and master’s degree in animal and dairy science from Mississippi State University, Simmons is well-versed in agriculture, most recently serving as the Tippah County extension coordinator and Agriculture and Natural Resources agent with Mississippi State University Extension.
As the new extension director, he will provide administrative support for Extension Services, overseeing the office and ensuring adequate resources are in place to provide educational programs and make a positive impact in the community. Simmons said he looks forward to facilitating continued growth and support of extension programs, working with the talented staff already in place in Escambia County.
“It’s such a diverse group that does so many different things, and my job is to make sure they’re supported and that their story is told to the ones that need to hear it,” Simmons said.
Simmons served for five years as the extension coordinator in Tippah County, covering all components of agriculture, including animal and plant systems, horticulture, timber production and land management. While studying at Mississippi State University, Simmons was president of the Collegiate Cattlemen’s Association and participated in collegiate 4-H and Block and Bridle Club.
Growing up in Saltillo, Mississippi, Simmons participated in 4-H from a young age, following in his family’s footsteps as a third generation 4-H member. His mother and grandmother also worked in extension services.
“So it was kind of a legacy-type thing, if you will,” Simmons said. “My family’s been involved with it for a long time.”
Simmons now has three children of his own with his wife, Michelle, and their 9-year-old son is already an active 4-H member. Along with the opportunity for professional growth, Simmons said he was drawn to the position with Escambia County because of the county’s abundant resources and strong 4-H program, which currently boasts about 245 members.
“It’s a beautiful part of the state, a beautiful part of the country,” Simmons said. “And then the 4-H program they have here was a big recruitment factor for me. We have the resources here to have one of, if not the premier, 4-H program in the country, we really do.”
One of Simmons’ goals as extension director is to continue to develop the county’s 4-H property in Molino, potentially adding new buildings and structures to provide the youth opportunities to succeed in a variety of educational fields.
“There’s a lot of emphasis on the livestock, but we have the capability of doing science and natural resource conservation-type teaching,” Simmons said. “So I think that’s where we have an area that we can really, really grow over the next few years.”
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
November 4, 2016
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending October 27 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Barnard inspected a fisherman’s catch when he returned to the Archie Glover Boat Ramp and found him in possession of 14 gallons of blue crabs. The legal limit is 10 gallons. A notice to appear citation was issued to the individual for the violation.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Hutchinson received information about a baited area within the Blackwater Wildlife Management Area (WMA). He and Officer Arnette located the area and discovered it to be baited with corn and a tree stand and a game camera set up. During the opening of archery season, Officer Hutchinson located a vehicle parked on a closed road near the bait. He walked into the baited area and discovered a hunter in the tree stand approximately 15 yards from a large pile of corn. The hunter admitted to placing the bait out and hunting over it. The subject informed Officer Hutchinson that he baited the site several times prior to the hunting season. The subject was charged with placing grain on a WMA and attempting to take deer over bait within a WMA. He was also issued an infraction citation for driving on a closed road and had to remove the hunting equipment from the baited site.
Officer Arnette located a bait site within the Blackwater WMA prior to archery season. Officers Arnette and Hutchinson later returned to the area approximately two hours after daylight and walked into the baited site where they observed a hunter sitting in a tree stand overlooking a large pile of corn. The corn was approximately 20 feet from the base of the tree. The subject stated “I didn’t know the corn was here until I climbed up this morning at daylight.” While walking the subject back to the area where his brother was to pick him up, Officer Hutchinson observed several cut trees along a trail. After further investigation, the subject admitted to placing the bait in the WMA and hunting over bait. He also admitted to damaging/cutting trees on the state forest property. The subject was charged with placing grain/corn on a WMA and attempting to take deer over bait within the WMA. He was also issued a written warning for cutting/damaging trees on a WMA. When the subject’s brother arrived to pick him up, the officers recognized him as being another subject they caught earlier in the morning hunting over bait in a WMA. After interviewing the second subject again, he admitted to helping his brother place bait on the WMA.
Officer Lewis received a complaint from a hunter that had a game camera and SD card stolen from an area he was scouting for the upcoming archery season in the Blackwater WMA. The hunter also found a pile of corn in the area. On opening day of archery season, Officer Lewis observed a white female in a tree stand, hunting with a bow over the pile of corn. When asked if she was hunting with someone else, she said her husband was hunting down the road. Officer Lewis located her husband in a tree stand, hunting with a bow. Officer Lewis found remnants of a corn pile approximately 20 yards out from the direction the husband’s stand was facing. The husband stated that he dropped his wife off at her spot while it was still dark. He stated that he drove to his spot and climbed the tree he was in while it was still dark. Both subjects stated they did not know the corn was there. When questioned about the stolen game cameras, they stated they knew nothing about it. Officer Lewis charged them both with attempting to take wildlife in a WMA on lands upon which grain or other food had been deposited.
Officers P. and J. Rockwell were on land patrol in Blackwater WMA and observed a white Ford F150 parked on the side of the road. The officers got out of their patrol vehicle and observed two men in the woods. One was at the bottom of a tree and the other was lowering his bow from the tree while in his stand. The officers made contact with the subjects and found bait 15 yards from the hunter in the tree stand. During the subsequent interview, the subject admitted to putting out the bait that morning. Officer J. Rockwell charged the man with placing, exposing, or distributing any grain or other food for wildlife in a WMA.
Officer Jones was patrolling the Eglin WMA when he found a recently dumped pile of construction debris near Five Forks Road in Navarre. Officer Jones, with assistance from Investigator Schafer, initiated an investigation to determine who dumped the debris and learned that two construction workers dumped the debris, which was supposed to go to the landfill a few days earlier. Both suspects were issued citations for illegal dumping and were required to clean up the area.
On the opening days of archery season, officers assigned to south Santa Rosa County conducted a targeted enforcement detail on the Eglin WMA. Five officers worked approximately 80 hours targeting the illegal taking of deer, hunting in the closed areas and illegal entry into Eglin. Several arrests were made for illegal entry, hunting and permit violations and the taking of deer by illegal method during this detail.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
Board Of Governors Confirms Saunders As Next UWF President
November 4, 2016
The Board of Governors confirmed Dr. Martha Saunders as the sixth president of the University of West Florida, effective Jan. 1, 2017, during its quarterly meeting held Thursday at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. Saunders will replace Dr. Judy Bense, who will retire as UWF President on December 31.
In September, the UWF Board of Trustees unanimously approved a resolution to recommend Saunders as president-elect, contingent upon the completion of a successful background screen and subject to confirmation by the Board of Governors as outlined in the State University System regulations.
Saunders currently serves as provost and executive vice president for UWF. In this role, she functions as the University’s chief academic officer and vice president for the Division of Academic Affairs, as well as the chief operating officer with oversight over all University divisions. She was previously a faculty member and administrator at UWF from 1984-2002.
This will be Saunders’ third time leading a university. She served as chancellor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater from 2005 to 2007 and president at the University of Southern Mississippi from 2007 to 2012.
Saunders began her career at UWF in 1984 as a professor in the Department of Communication Arts, where she then became coordinator of the Public Relations Program. She also served as director of the University Honors Program and associate dean of the College of Arts and Social Sciences from 1996 to 1999. In 2000, she was named dean of the UWF College of Arts and Sciences.
She received a bachelor’s degree in French from the University of Southern Mississippi, a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Georgia and a doctorate in communication theory and research from Florida State University.
FDLE Supervisor Charged With Sexually Assaulting Two Young Boys
November 3, 2016
A Florida Department of Law Enforcement agent has been arrested for repeatedly sodomizing and sexually abusing two 8-year old boys.
Charles Calvin McMullen was arrested by the Major Crimes Division of the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office on two counts of sexual battery on a victim under 12 and two counts of lewd lascivious behavior victim less than 12 years old.
His arrest came after deputies with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Santa Rosa Kids House where the Department of Children and Families was working on a case involving an 8-year old boy. The boy told investigators that McMullen had been touching him inappropriately on a frequent basis, according to an arrest report.
When DCF contacted McMullen about the allegations, he “began to cry”, the report states.
Another 8-year old boy made a similar allegation, also claiming he was forced to touch McMullen. Neither child knew of the allegations made by the other.
McMullen denied the allegations against him. He remains in jail with bond set at $300,000 and has been placed on administrative leave from FDLE.
McMullen investigated similar cases during his five year employment with the FDLE. He previously worked as Chief of the Cybercrimes Unit for then-Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum and for the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office.
Pictured top: Charles Calvin McMullen. Courtesy WEAR 3. Pictured below: McMullen chats online as a teenage girl during a Florida Attorney General demonstration in 2007.
Gulf Power: New Year Will Bring Lower Electricity Prices
November 3, 2016
Gulf Power customers are expected to see slightly lower monthly bills after state regulators on Wednesday approved fuel costs for the coming year. The Pensacola-based Gulf Power said average residential customers will see their bills go from $148.64 to $144.01.
“This price decrease is great news for our customers, especially as we head into the cold winter months,” said Jeff Rogers, Gulf Power spokesperson. “And because Gulf Power employees have been working hard toward a more balanced energy mix, our customers are able to take advantage of lower fuel prices now, and into the future.”
Every year, the Florida Public Service Commission adjusts Gulf Power’s prices to reflect cost changes in fuel, environmental controls and energy conservation programs.
This decrease comes on the heels of a price increase request to continue to invest in the reliability of Northwest Florida’s energy infrastructure. In October, Gulf Power requested that the Florida Public Service Commission conduct a public review of their prices and a proposed increase that would begin in July 2017. The last time customers saw a price increase was in January 2015, and when compared to those prices, the average residential customer’s monthly bill in July 2017 would increase by only $2.50 per month or less than 2 percent.
“If approved, that requested investment would help secure long-term reliability, continue smart grid improvements, and bolster our goal of achieving a balanced energy mix,” said Rogers. “Along with that request, we’ve asked for approval of new customer rate options designed to make bills more predictable, and greater customer conveniences including an improved online experience, additional payment locations at popular stores and payment kiosks in business offices.”
Trump: ‘I Love This Area’, Going To Win Florida And White House
November 3, 2016
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump brought his message to Pensacola Wednesday night, an area in which he said his campaigns carries overwhelming support.
“In six days, we are going win the great state of Florida, and we are going to win the White House,” Trump said to rousing applause from the estimated six thousand people in a packed house at the Maritime Park Hunter Amphitheater.
Trump said he has immediate plans to repeal Obamacare once elected.
“Change begins with immediately repealing and replacing Obamacare,” Trump said. “It’s just been announced that the residents Florida…are going to experience massive, double-digit premium hikes…I want you to leave happy tonight knowing that we are going to make America great again.”
He also spent part of his 40 minute speech addressing the FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private email server during her tenure as secretary of state.
“Hillary wants to blame everyone else for her mounting legal troubles but she has no one to blame but herself. She set up the illegal email server to hide her criminal activity,” he said.
Trump also offered his thoughts on a couple of key local issues — the Blue Angels and the Pensacola Bay Bridge.
“We will ensure the Blue Angels continue to inspire. I love those guys, I love the Blue Angels,” he said. He also said the Pensacola Bay Bridge should be replaced.
Trump said he loves the Pensacola area.
“It’s a great honor to be with you tonight. It’s a great area. This is an amazing area,” Trump said.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview NJROTC Annual Inspection Held (With Photo Gallery)
November 3, 2016
Northview High School’s NJROTC Annual Inspection was held Wednesday at the school, with cadets undergoing face to face scrutiny with a retired Navy commander.
Commander Merlin Ladner, USN (Ret) conducted the inspection. The day’s events began with a personnel inspection, drill demonstration and a pass-in-review in the school gym. The commander also conducted a financial record review, briefings, administrative inspections, supply inspections and more.
One by one, Cmdr. Ladner went face to face with each cadet, asking them questions about their NJROTC experience and conducting a complete inspection of their uniform.
“Yes, sir,” the cadets answered as they faced the questions about their NJROTC service, their ribbons, the shine on their shoes and some less than expected questions about every day life and football that left some cadets trying not to crack a smile.
“Who pressed your uniform?” Ladner asked one cadet.
“My mother,” the cadet responded.
“You should have pressed your own uniform,” Ladner replied. “But your mom did a good job.”
“This is a great program” said Ladner, who conducts annual inspections at dozens of high schools in the Southeast, told the entire group following his inspection. “I want you to know how proud I am of you. You have set the benchmark for other programs this year.”
Northview’s NJROTC is under the command of Senior Naval Science Instructor Captain Charlie Code and Chief Jeffrey Simpkins. The unit is led by Company Commander Cadet LCDR Sara McCreary and Executive Officer Cadet LT Alyssa Borelli.
For a photo gallery from the inspection, click here.
Several cadets were promoted during Wednesday’s review:
For a photo gallery from the inspection, click here.
Pictured: Northview High School’s NJROTC Annual Inspection Wednesday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
