Escambia Man Indicted For Selling Fake Viagra
July 24, 2013
An Escambia County man is facing federal charges for selling fake Viagra through the mail.
Robert P. Galea, 53, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges that he trafficked in counterfeit Viagra and fraudulently executed a scheme to deliver the misbranded pharmaceuticals through the United States Postal Service.
Galea made his initial appearance in federal court on 10 counts of trafficking in counterfeit drugs, selling misbranded drugs, and mail fraud. The indictment alleges the counterfeit drugs were obtained from sources in other countries, including India.
A jury trial for Galea has been scheduled before Judge Casey Rodgers on September 9. If found guilty of trafficking in counterfeit drugs or mail fraud, Galea faces up to 20 years in prison.
Manna Cuts Ribbon On Renovated, Upgraded Food Pantry
July 24, 2013
Manna Food Pantries held a ribbon cutting and open house at their newly renovated warehouse facility on Gonzalez Street Tuesday. The Main Pantry renovations were made possible by a grant from the Impact 100 group.
Manna serves those in need in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties through six pantries located in Pensacola, Ensley, Gonzales, Cantonment, Milton and Jay.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Storms Cause Minor Damage
July 24, 2013
A line of thunderstorms that moved through the North Escambia area caused minor damage. A pecan tree came crashing down at a home on Pine Barren Road near Highway 4 in Bratt (pictured above). There were also scattered power outages and minor flooding reported. Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
4-H Holds Celebration Camp For Navy Kids
July 24, 2013
A 20 local youth members of 4-H recently held four 4-H Celebration Camps at the Langley Bell 4-H Camp in Beulah.
The youth presented and demonstrated various aspects of 4-H to over 120 children in grades K-3 from the NAS Pensacola and Corry Station child development centers.
4-H members Izzy, Elise and Jessica talked about their goat and pig projects and the children were given the opportunity to learn about the animals and how much time and effort goes into preparing them for showing. They also demonstrated to the groups that having an animal is a huge responsibility.
Donnie, Jamie, Amanda and Dwayne showed rabbits, and the children were able to get up close with them. The children were able to ask questions and learn about keeping rabbits healthy and how to show them.
Rebekah, Dillon, Alex, Sir, Dominic and Elydia all taught the Children the 4-H Pledge with the words and hand motions. For the older groups they demonstrated how to run a 4-H meeting. They were able to create their own club and hold their own 4-H meeting.
4-H clubs taking part in the event included Barrineau Park, Spectrum, Tech Wizards, Lost Bay, the Lucky Clovers and the Escambia County 4-H Horse Club.
Pictured top: Youth and children from one of the sessions. Pictured inset: Izzy, Jessica and Elise show a goat to the participants. Pictured below: Izzy and Jessica making a presentation. Pictured bottom: Rebekah, president of Escambia County 4-H explains the day to a group of fellow 4-H members. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Deputies Seek Home Invasion Suspects
July 24, 2013
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for two suspects following a home invasion last Friday in the 7000 block of Charter Oaks Drive, just off Olive Road.
At about 9:30 a.m., two black males forced their way into the residence, the Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday. One was 6-foot, 2-inches, and the other was about 6-foot, 5-inches, deputies said. The suspects struck the victims with a handgun after binding them. They suspects fled after taking money and other items.
The three victims were able to free themselves and call 911.
Investigators are currently looking for a 2003 tan Chevrolet Tahoe with tinted windows in connection with the incident.
Anyone with information should contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP. Citizens should not approach the suspects, deputies said, because they should be considered armed and dangerous.
Pictured: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said two home invasion suspects fled in a Chevrolet Tahoe similar to this one. Courtesy image.
Florida Sales Up, Local Home Sales Sluggish
July 24, 2013
Single-family home sales across Florida were up more than 8 percent in June compared to the same period a year earlier, Florida Realtors reported Tuesday. But the Escambia-Santa Rosa counties market was one of six areas across the state where new home sales dropped.
In the Escambia-Santa Rosa market, new home sales were down 2.9 percent in June, while local condo and townhouse sales fell 15.4 percent. The average home sale price in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties was up 7.1 percent to $169,250.
The median sales price statewide in June was $175,000, up 15.1 percent from June 2012 and the highest for the state since June 2008 when 11,700 sales had a median price of $205,500. By comparison, the national median sales price for single-family homes was $214,700 in June, up 13.2 percent from the prior year.
Overall the realtors reported closing 20,403 single-family home sales in Florida during June, up from 18,800 a year ago, and the highest for the month of June since 26,112 closings in 2005. Florida Realtors reported the number of single-family home sales had grown 18.7 percent in May and 17.4 percent in April.
Flomaton Police Seek Person of Interest
July 24, 2013
The Flomaton Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying a person of interest that may have been involved in a theft at a local convenience store in Flomaton on July 17. Police have been unable to identify that man seen on the store’s surveillance system. Anyone that may be able to identify this man is asked to call the Flomaton Police Department at (251) 296-5811.
Braves Blitz Wahoos 8-3
July 24, 2013
The Mississippi Braves bats awoke early on Tuesday night, scoring six runs in their first three at-bats in an 8-3 victory over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in the opening game of a five-game series at Trustmark Park.
The Braves jumped all over Wahoos starter Shaun Ellis, smashing eight hits against the Pensacola right-hander in just three frames. Mycal Jones led off the first with a double and scored on a Tommy La Stella single. La Stella advanced to third on a throwing error by Ellis and scored on a Robby Hefflinger single to make it 2-0.
An inning later, the Braves loaded the bases with nobody out but only managed a run on a Jones single. Christian Bethancourt grounded into a double play to thwart the rally.
However, Ellis wasn’t as lucky in the third inning as the Braves posted three more runs. Jose Martinez singled home Hefflinger before Christian Marrero drove home a run on a single to center while another run came home when Ryan LaMarre had the ball skip by him in center to make it 6-1. Ellis fell to 3-2 by allowing six runs (three earned) on eight hits in three innings.
Pensacola got on the board in the top of the second on a Travis Mattair groundout that scored Donald Lutz. The Wahoos had two on with one out later in the inning, but Devin Lohman grounded into an inning-ending double play.
The score remained 6-1 until the top of the eighth inning when the Wahoos struck for two runs on a two-run, two-out double from Tucker Barnhart. However, Mississippi came right back with two runs in the last of the eighth on a La Stella double and an Edward Salcedo single to make the final margin 8-3.
Aaron Northcraft (4-8) picked up the win for Mississippi with his second straight quality start. The right-hander allowed just a run on four hits with five strikeouts in 6.1 innings.
The series continues on Wednesday night at Trustmark Park with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m. Daniel Renken (3-7, 3.77) will get the call for Pensacola against Mississippi’s Gus Schlosser (6-2, 2.36).
Protestors In Scott’s Office Cost State Almost $100,000
July 24, 2013
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement estimated Tuesday that it has cost nearly $100,000 to keep an eye on protesters who have spent the past week camped outside Gov. Rick Scott’s first-floor Capitol office.
That estimate, however, includes regular shift pay for officers assigned to the Capitol. FDLE spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger said overtime costs made up about $37,000 of the overall total.
The estimated security costs from July 15, a day before the student-led Dream Defenders marched on the Capitol, through Monday, were $97,970.88, according to the FDLE. For security reasons, Plessinger declined to break down the number of officers who have been assigned to watch the protesters.
The single biggest day for security costs was last Thursday, with the estimate at $19,081.67. Scott held an impromptu meeting Thursday night with seven members of the Dream Defenders.
The protesters are calling for a special session on the state’s controversial 2005 “stand your ground law,” racial profiling by police and what they see as changes needed in the juvenile-justice system.
A daily log of the incidents recorded by the FLDE noted that state Rep. Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee, twice brought food to the protesters during the weekend.
Also, protesters were told on two separate occasions they could not use air mattresses due to being potential hazards in an emergency. And one night, two males with no shirts on and a female in a bra and shorts were found sleeping in the Capitol’s first-floor chapel.
No Injuries In 297A Crash; Molino Driver Cited
July 23, 2013
There were no serious injuries reported in a three vehicle wreck Tuesday afternoon at the intersection of Highway 297A and County Road 97.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 18-year old Zachary Lee Taylor of Molino was northbound on Highway 297A in a 1998 GMC Sierra pickup when he veered into oncoming traffic to avoid hitting another vehicle. He collided with a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 60-year old Emory J. Mason of Pensacola about 5:20 p.m. Taylor’s pickup then slid into a 2004 Saturn Vue driven by 59-year old Sandra Kaye Enterkin of Cantonment.
Mason was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries. Taylor and Enterkin were not injured.
Taylor was cited for careless driving, according to the FHP.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
