Local Assistant U.S. Attorney Pleads Guilty To Illegally Steering Contracts To Her Spouse
March 30, 2023
An Assistant U.S. Attorney in Pensacola has pleaded guilty to illegally steering contracts to her spouse, in violation of the federal criminal conflict of interest statute.
According to court documents, 55-year old Kathryn Drey, 55 directed contracts from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida to companies in which her spouse had a financial interest, including while she served as chief of the office’s Civil Division. Drey concealed her spouse’s financial interest in contracts to conduct title searches in litigation defended by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“Kathryn Drey committed a federal crime by enriching her family at the expense of her duty to the American people,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Department of Justice is committed to holding accountable public servants who act with unlawful conflicts of interest, prioritizing financial gain over their ethical duties.”
Drey pleaded guilty to one count of acting with a conflict of interest. She is scheduled to be sentenced on June 28 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
“The public trusts Department of Justice employees to act with the highest integrity. Instead, Drey acted in her own self-interest to improperly profit from her official position,” said Special Agent in Charge James F. Boyersmith of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ-OIG) Miami Field Office. “DOJ-OIG is committed to rooting out this kind of egregious misconduct and bringing perpetrators to justice.”
Tate High Tennis Tops Navarre
March 30, 2023
Tate High Aggies boys and girls tennis defeated Navarre High Wednesday. The Tate boys beat NHS 6-1, and the girls won 7-0. Up next, Tate tennis will host Pace High on Thursday.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
First Candidate Prefiles For Escambia Commission District 5 In 2024
March 30, 2023
The first candidate has prefiled for Escambia County Commission District 5 race in the 2024 election.
James Hilburn of Millet Circle filed his paperwork as a Republican Wednesday morning with the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections.
In 2022, Hilburn prefiled for Pensacola mayor using his Cantonment address and listed his occupation as security guard. He did not finish the process to appear on the ballot.
Boil Water Notice Issued For Entire Nature Trail Subdivision
March 29, 2023
A precautionary boil water notice has been issued by ECUA for the entire Nature Trail Subdivision.
This precautionary notice was issued due to localized water taste and color issues after a well was placed back in service from routine maintenance. PWBN are issued as a part of the standard protocol following any loss of water pressure or concerns, whether as a result of planned maintenance activities or unscheduled repairs. There was no loss of pressure and all sample results showed chlorine residuals within normal ranges.
Residents located in the specified area are advised to boil water for one minute at a rolling boil or to use eight drops of regular unscented household bleach per gallon of water, for water to be used for drinking or cooking purposes. Two independent bacteriological samples have been initiated and the advisory will be lifted as soon as possible. This process routinely takes 48 hours and the notice will be rescinded at that time.
ECUA staff resolved the issue at the well and have flushed out the lines. Residents within the PBWN area and nearby are advised that there is a possibility of residual discolored water as a result of the flushing, and to flush their home’s plumbing by running their taps for a few minutes. If problems persist, customers are asked to contact ECUA Customer Service at (850) 476-0480 for assistance.
This story will be updated when the boil water notice is lifted.
Rare Supersized Hail Destroys Crops At Local Vegetable Farm
March 29, 2023
Supersized hail lashed a portion of the North Escambia area early Tuesday morning, destroying all of the crops at a Davisville produce farm.
Maeday Farm on Highway 97 in Davisville, about a mile south of Atmore, lost all of their remaining winter vegetables and everything they had planted for spring, according to co-founder Steven Elliot. Hail they estimated to be between golf ball to ping pong ball size beat all of the vegetables into the ground, including lettuce, radicchio, green onions, kale, spinach, cucumbers, squash and zucchini. Their animals and structures like greenhouses were not damaged.
Steven Elliot and his wife Meredith Elliot typically sell their produce at the Palafox Market in Pensacola, but they won’t be there for several weeks and they regroup and plan how to move forward.
“It was a big loss with everything gone in just a few minutes,” Steven Elliot said.
The supersized for Florida hail fell in an area along and within a few miles of the Alabama/Florida line just after 2 a.m. Tuesday. Some of the hail was documented to be about 2.5 inches, which the weather service calls tennis ball sized.
“I’d say that hail size is crazy big for here. Not sure I’ve seen it that big in 20 years,” WEAR 3 meteorologist Allen Strum said. He said a typical severe thunderstorm with large hail would have hail of one inch or larger.
Escambia County, Florida, officials said no damage was reported to the county or emergency services.
Pictured: Radishes (top photo), radicchio (first below) along with Swiss chard and kale (second below) were among the produce destroyed early Tuesday morning by large hail and Maedae Farms on Highway 97 in Davisville. Pictured inset and bottom: Some of the rare supersized hail that fell in the North Escambia area. Photos for NorhEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Elects Two Council Members During Special Election
March 29, 2023
Two interim Century Town Council members were elected Tuesday to their seats for almost the next four years.
In January, Shelisa McCall and Alicia Johnson were appointed to the council after no one ran for two seats during the 2022 election. Both won during a special election Tuesday by about a two to one margin.
Century Town Council Seat 3
- Shelisa McCall – 89 votes (66.92%)
- Evelyn Webber – 44 votes (33.08%)
Century Town Council Seat 4
- Eddie Hammond – 43 votes (32.58%)
- Alicia Johnson – 89 votes (67.42%)
“I feel very honored that the town of Century trusts me to do this very important job,” Johnson said after the votes were tabulated Tuesday evening at the Century Town Hall. “My big plans are to jump in with both feet, getting our infrastructure repaired, and building jobs, bringing jobs to the area.”
Turnout for the election was low. Just 14.06% (136) of the 967 eligible registered voters cast a vote in Tuesday’s election. There were 32 votes cast by mail and 104 in person at Century Town Hall.
Johnson and McCall will remain in their interim seats until they are sworn in on April 7.
Pictured top: Newly elected Century Town Council members Shelisa McCall (left) and Alicia Johnson (right). Pictured first below: Challenger Eddie Hammond congratulates Johnson Tuesday evening. Second below: Unsuccessful candidate Evelyn Webber said she still looks forward to serving the Century community. Pictured third below: Escambia County Canvassing Board members sign off on election results. Escambia County Commission Chairman Robert Bender (left) and Supervisor of Elections David Stafford (seated) served on the canvassing board along with County Judge Barry E. Dickson, Jr. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle School Names Students Of The Month
March 29, 2023
Ransom Middle School recently named their Students of the Month for February. They are Addison Cox and Parker White. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Boys, Girls Win Track Meet (With Gallery)
March 29, 2023
Northview High School’s boys and girls track teams finished first at a recent track and field meet, the first held at the school in Bratt in about a decade.
Northview had not hosted a meet in years due to the poor condition of the track, but it was recently resurfaced.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Team results and scores are below:
BOYS
- Northview – 157
- Flomaton – 152.5
- Jay – 151
- J.U. Blacksher – 85
- LEAD Academy – 71.5
- Central (Milton) – 13
GIRLS
- Northview – 182
- Jay – 140
- J.U. Blacksher — 98
- LEAD Academy – 91
- Flomaton – 30
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Man Charged With Hitting His Girlfriend With A Stick
March 29, 2023
A Century man has been charged with hitting his live-in girlfriend with a stick last December.
Jesse Lee Hall, 49, was charged with felony aggravated battery with a deadly weapon domestic violence related.
The victim told deputies that she and Hall became involved in an argument before he placed his arm around her and said that he loved her. When she did not reciprocate his affection, he shoved her away, according to an arrest report. The victim said she went and hid in the woods.
When she thought it was safe and exited the woods, Hall shoved her to the ground then forced her to walk to their house, the report states, while threatening her with a one and a half inch thick stick in his hand.
“Hall grabbed her and hit her with the stick so hard that it took her breath away,” the report states.
Deputies were unable to locate Hall following the incident, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Hall remained in the Escambia County Jail Wednesday with bond set at $10,000.
Escambia Property Taxes Become Delinquent On April 1
March 29, 2023
Unpaid real estate and tangible property taxes become delinquent April 1 in Escambia County, according to Tax Collector Scott Lunsford.
Penalties of three percent for real estate taxes and one and one-half percent for tangible taxes will be assessed. Over $27.3 million remains unpaid, representing approximately eight percent of the tax roll. To avoid the penalty, payment must be made by April 1.
Payment options include:
- online by midnight, March 31, at EscambiaTaxCollector.com;
- mailed with a March postmark;
- left by midnight, March 31 in a 24-hour drop box available at all locations; or
- by phone at (850) 438-6500, ext. 3252 by close of business March 31.