Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 12-4-15 Edition

Features
Public Library To Honor Local Post In Recognition Of Pearl Harbor Day
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Monday, December 7th, the R. W. Saunders Library Foundation, Inc. will take part in recognition of the 74th An- niversary of Pearl Harbor Day. The organization will pay trib- ute to a local military post as part of the remembrance of the historic event.
The event is free and open to the public. It will be held at the Saunders Library, 1505 N. Nebraska Avenue, at 5:30 p.m. The Foundation will honor the American Legion Post 167.
Johnnie D. (J. D.) Hi- smith, Jr., is Commander of the Post. Ms. Eunice Butts is Central Florida Area Com- mander, 1st Vice Commander and Historian of the post.
Ms. Butts has also served as Post Command for 8 years and as Chairperson of Several committees for children and youth, Americanism (commu- nity service), and Junior ROTC at Middleton High School.
Each year, American Le- gion Post 167 provides support to underprivileged children and others in the community.
American Legion Post 167 members Charles Vann, John Henry Padgett, and Israel Tillman, Jr., are
EUNICE BUTTS American Legion Area Commander
credited with organized the Woods & Wanton Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers whose headquarters are in Tampa.
The Post also recognizes veterans and current members serving in all branches of the U. S. military.
American Legion Post 167 was organized in 1946 as Unit 6. It was sponsored by the U.S.S. Tampa American Le- gion Post 5.
According to Fred Hearns, President of the R. W. Saunders Library Founda- tion, Inc., the USS Tampa lost all 111 Coast Guardsmen on board, along with U. S. Navy personnel, British Navy per- sonnel and civilians when a torpedo sank the cutter during World War I.
FRED HEARNS President, R. W. Saunders Library Foundation, Inc.
In 1946 Tampa veterans decided to honor the memory of two young Coast Guards- men from Tampa, Florida who died in 1918 aboard the USS Tampa, Herman Carmichael and Eston Drew Legree.
Carmichael's mother, Estelle, and Legree's mother, Malice Caldwell, both lived in Tampa.
It is part of the Library’s Black History Experience Pro- grams. The R. W. Saunders Li- brary Foundation, Inc. recognizes churches and or- ganizations that help keep Black History alive in Hillsbor- ough County.
Dr. Aaron Smith is the Vice President of the R. W. Saunders Library Foundation.
High School Coach Facing Sexual Battery Charges
A 48-year-old high school track and field coach is facing sexual battery charges. He was arrested after officials learned that he had allegedly had sex- ual relations with a student.
According to the Tampa Po- lice Department, Dwight La- mont Smith was taken into custody and charged with 2 counts of sexual assault by a custodian. Smith is currently being held at the Hillsborough County Jail.
However, since the alleged incidents took place in Ti- tusville and Gainesville, those agencies will prosecute the cases.
According to the Tampa Po- lice Department, a 17-year-old student reported the incident to the Freedom High School principal on November 12th.
The student is a member of the track and field and cross country team. She told police that she reported it because “she started to realize that their relationship was wrong and that it could not continue.”
During an interview with a detective from the Tampa Po- lice Department, the student said the sex was consensual. The first incident took place while the team was at a hotel in Gainesville.
The girl told police that Smith gave her vodka and or- ange juice, then gave her his room key and told her to meet him. The girl went to the room and they allegedly had sex. Smith allegedly went to din- ner with alumni members and upon returning contacted the girl and they had sex again.
The next incident took place while the team was in Ti- tusville. The girl told police they had sex again.
On November 11th, the girl told police that Smith came to her home unannounced and wanted to have sex again. How- ever, she decided against it and Smith left. The following day, she reported the incident to the principal, who contacted the School Resource Officer.
A spokesperson for the Hillsborough County School District said Smith was fired on November 12th.
He was hired in 2009 as a Paraprofessional ESE teacher and Girls track and Cross Country Coach. Because he was considered a part-time em- ployee, the district did not need the approval of the School Board to terminate him.
When detectives inter- viewed the student, they asked her to contact Smith and talk to him about the incident. The girl called him and said she might be pregnant. Smith re- portedly suggested that she get an abortion.
During the recorded con- versation, the girl asked Smith if he was going to tell his wife about the baby and he said his wife “does not need to know anything about this,” the detec- tive wrote in his report.
When detectives inter- viewed Smith, he allegedly de- nied the accusation. However, police had recorded two con- versations he had with the girl without his knowledge.
Tampa police contacted Alachua County and notified them of the incident. On Mon- day night, police arrested Smith for another jurisdiction (Alachua County) and trans- ported him to the Hillsborough County Jail. He was placed under a $150,000 bond. How- ever, there is a police hold on him for Alachua County.
DWIGHT LAMONT SMITH
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