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WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court has affirmed a ruling allowing Florida to undertake beach-widening projects without paying beachfront property owners who lose exclusive access to the water.

The court, by an 8-0 vote Thursday, rejected a challenge by six homeowners in Florida’s panhandle who argued that a beach-widening project changed their oceanfront property into oceanview. Justice John Paul Stevens took no part in the case.

Private property advocates had hoped the court would rule for the first time that a court decision can amount to a taking of property.
   
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

Money talk continues for Bay District schools.  The Bay County Teacher’s Union is now talking about teacher salaries.

The Teacher’s Union wants to reward teachers who take on extra assignments and make teacher pay across the district more consistent.  However, everything depends on approval by the Association of Bay County Educators (ABCE).

Nancy Young is the chief negotiator for the Association of Bay County Educators.  She and several other people sat through a presentation Thursday by the Teacher’s Union.

“I think we’re off to a good start. We were sharing what might be primary concerns and what needs to be looked at,” Young said.

The two groups decided on several changes to teacher pay.  For example, educators who teach online through the Beacon Virtual School could now get anywhere from 140 to 170 dollars per one half credit course.  The group also decided to offer a discount to teachers who use the district’s childcare program.  Faculty could now use the childcare service for only five bucks for two hours, once a month.

“In these two cases they’re a little bit different that we’re not using district dollars,” the Teacher’s Union Chief Negotiator Pat Martin said. “They’re outside sources.”

Funding for the approved supplement would come directly from the Beacon program funds.

Nonetheless, several other ideas still sit on the table.  The Teacher’s Union proposed giving more pay to teachers who take the lead in the ASPIRE program in their schools.  The union also wants to supplement 3 teachers in the district who head the science and history fairs too.

The Association of Bay County Educators voted “no” on these ideas.

“Is this a job that should be done at an administrative person rather than as an extra duty by a teacher?” Young questioned.  “Is a person being paid to do that or not? We could use some clarification so we make the best use of the taxpayers’ money.”

Concerns are floating on both sides of the table.

“This salary schedule has grown up kind of ‘willy nilly’ or ‘hodgepodge’ over the years,” Martin said. “The first 8 years from the first year a teacher begins, they’re salary increases less than 2000 dollars.”

The two new ideas that were approved Thursday, can’t take effect until negotiations end.  The school board has to sign off on them too.

There are still no solid leads in the burglary of a Panama City metal recycling plant.  Thieves broke into the offices of Lewis Metals just before midnight on August 29, sawed open a safe and made off with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Law enforcement agencies say it’s not uncommon for scrap metal recyclers to be targeted by thieves.  But what makes the Lewis Metals case unusual is that burglars went to the heart of the business – without touching the scrap metal piled up outside.

Area law enforcement agencies have seen an increase in the theft of scrap metal.  “Copper wiring, copper pipes, things of that nature are a hot commodity,” said Major Tommy Ford of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.

In June, four people were charged with stealing aluminum and copper materials from a Panama City business.  Four others were arrested for allegedly stealing electrical wire from a business in Bonifay.

In July, the Bay Line Railroad reported the theft of more than $1,000 worth of metal products from its Bay County yard and, in another case, scrap copper wire was reported stolen from a warehouse in Panama City.

Last month, eleven sets of metal road grates – valued at $10,000 – were stolen from the Magnolia Hills subdivision in Cedar Grove, and a Lynn Haven man was charged with stealing air conditioning parts, including sixteen rolls of copper tubing.

“I believe the overall problem is just crimes of opportunity,” said Major Ford.  “They can find it and go undetected and take it to the places that they may be able to fence it or sell it.”

But trying to sell stolen scrap metal often leads to criminals’ undoing, thanks to security measures in place at recycling facilities.

“They have some of the same requirements as pawn dealers, such as fingerprints, photographs and documentation of who is selling them these metals,” said Major Ford.  “We work with them closely to try to tie those back to burglaries.”

Several arrests have resulted from the cooperation of local recyclers.  Lewis Metals requires sellers to provide a driver’s license, thumb print, vehicle tag number and signature – and all transactions are videotaped.

For years the residents along Davis Lake say the City of Lynn Haven owns the body of water. The city disagrees, saying the residents are responsible and today, we finally have an answer. However, the question of who owns the lake wasn’t the only issue.

Thursday mornings circle included representatives from the city and different state agencies.  The city presented records indicating neither the city nor the residents own the body of water, but the state holds the title to the lands below Davis Lake.

“We have a deed from 2008 saying the state claimed the land beneath the lake so they could manage the invasive plants,” said Lynn Haven Public Works Supervisor Robert Olson.
Everyone agrees the state owns the lake, but officials with Florida Fish and Wildlife say they only own part of the lake, but are taking full responsibility of cleaning it all up.   

The new question was where to go from here.
“The next step is getting in concrete the local agreement, that everybody has agreed upon and the next step after that is hopefully a draw down of the lake,” said Olson.

Leaders brought ideas to the circle of how to improve the lake’s status. The first decision is to drain the lake’s water this winter and allow for the algae to die.  Also, the city is taking the responsibility of fixing a rusted water valve on the lake.

People on all sides of the issue were happy with this morning’s outcome.
“We have called this over 30 years the jewel of Lynn Haven and just look at it, but it’s only happened in the last few years that we haven’t have the cooperation between the homeowners and the officials, but we are finally starting to work together and I think it will work,” said resident Jayne Sears.

“I feel very good, we are all on the same page, we are going to get the lake draw down we are going to get it restocked,” said Mayor Walt Kelley.

The city and state have agreed to work together to maintain the lake.
The city plans on documenting who has responsibility so this argument never comes up again.

First it was Cash for Clunkers, now it’s Cash for Air Conditioners.

The state of Florida is ready to roll out $15 million stimulus dollars to energy efficient homeowners.

From now until December – if you buy a new heating or air conditioning unit – you could get a $1,500 rebate.

“One of the bigger things is not just the rebate savings but the actual energy consumption savings,” said Vice president of Peaden Air Conditioning, Kyle Shoots. 

He says even if you have to shell out more upfront, you’ll save more in the long run.

“You could really reduce your operating cost for any house or business 30% or 40%,” said Shoots.

To qualify, the unit has to meet certain standards.  The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating must be at least 16 or higher to meet the qualifications.  It’s found on the energy saving sticker on the side of most units.

This isn’t the first time the government has used stimulus dollars for appliances.  The federal government handed out some dough earlier in the year and it went fast.  Shoot is hoping this will bring in some extra customers.

“We really expect this to increase our business as it did with the previous program,” said Shoots.

So if you’ve been thinking about replacing your system, now’s the time to do it.  They’re expecting the money to go fast.

The campaign signs that are still left up only have a few days before their owners start getting fined for them.  Fines and dates vary by the city, but most say 10-14 days are the maximum allowable period for signs to be displayed.  Only candidates who were eliminated in the primaries have to take them down. 

Bay County Supervisor of Elections Mark Andersen said supporters may want to help their candidates take care of the extra signs.

“If you see one that’s out there and maybe the candidate just forgot it, look the candidate up and just give them a call and say hey you know a sign is out here,” Andersen said.

Joe Wayne Walker won the race for the School Board District 1 seat.  He said he spent Wednesday taking down his signs with several supporters.

“People give us permission to put our signs up and everything but when the election is over they want the signs picked up,” Walker said.

“So we try to abide by that and get them picked up as soon as we can.”

After 30 days, the county will start picking up the signs at taxpayer expense.

To prevent contagious disease doctors promote vaccination. The flu is at the forefront of spreadable sicknesses.

“We try to protect our community by immunizing everybody around,” said Nursing Director for the Bay County Health Department, Kerry Hunt.

As a nurse, Hunt knows the worth of wellness. She recommends you consider the potential impacts of influenza.

“Flu unfortunately can be fatal to some individuals. So the vaccine, there’s very few side effects that go along with it, so when you consider the risks and the benefits, we most definitely do,” said Hunt.

You don’t have to wait to start building up immunity. The larger pharmacies, like Walgreens and CVS already have the vaccination. The Health Department suggests you take advantage of the opportunity in advance of the season.

“In Florida, typically our flu is like January, February and the beginning of March so you have a little bit of leeway, but there’s no reason to wait,” said Hunt.

It does take time for the body to accept the shot: about 2 weeks.

Plus, because of last year’s H1N1 outbreak, Hunt is preparing for high demand.

“What we expect is that the supply of the vaccine will be enough to give us and anybody else in the community that has ordered the vaccine, whatever they want,” said Hunt.

The Health Department does not have the vaccine available yet, but plans to put the word out as soon as it comes in.

DeFuniak Springs Police have responded to numerous reports of counterfeit currency in the community. Most of the currency involves counterfeit twenty dollar bills with the same serial numbers. Businesses and citizens are urged to double check their currency for security features to insure it is genuine. The counterfeit bills obtained are good copies, but lack the security features of genuine bills.

One of the easiest ways to detect a counterfeit bill is by using a counterfeit bill detector pen, which can be purchased from retail and office supply stores. This special pen will produce a black mark on any bill that is NOT genuine U.S. Currency. Genuine U.S. Currency will display a light yellow marking. Genuine currency also carries a watermark of the President portrayed on the bill. If a suspicious bill is received, check for multiple security features such as the watermark, the security thread stating the denomination, and the color shifting ink on the denomination number located in the lower right corner of the bill.

To learn more about security features and detecting counterfeit currency, go to the following link on the worldwide web: http://www.secretservice.gov/money_detect.shtml
Persons receiving suspected counterfeit bills and those with information regarding counterfeiters are requested to contact the DeFuniak Springs Police at 892-8513.

DeFuniak Springs Police have responded to numerous reports of counterfeit currency in the community. Most of the currency involves counterfeit twenty dollar bills with the same serial numbers. Businesses and citizens are urged to double check their currency for security features to insure it is genuine. The counterfeit bills obtained are good copies, but lack the security features of genuine bills.

One of the easiest ways to detect a counterfeit bill is by using a counterfeit bill detector pen, which can be purchased from retail and office supply stores. This special pen will produce a black mark on any bill that is NOT genuine U.S. Currency. Genuine U.S. Currency will display a light yellow marking. Genuine currency also carries a watermark of the President portrayed on the bill. If a suspicious bill is received, check for multiple security features such as the watermark, the security thread stating the denomination, and the color shifting ink on the denomination number located in the lower right corner of the bill.

To learn more about security features and detecting counterfeit currency, go to the following link on the worldwide web: http://www.secretservice.gov/money_detect.shtml
Persons receiving suspected counterfeit bills and those with information regarding counterfeiters are requested to contact the DeFuniak Springs Police at 892-8513.

DeFuniak Springs Police have responded to numerous reports of counterfeit currency in the community. Most of the currency involves counterfeit twenty dollar bills with the same serial numbers. Businesses and citizens are urged to double check their currency for security features to insure it is genuine. The counterfeit bills obtained are good copies, but lack the security features of genuine bills.

One of the easiest ways to detect a counterfeit bill is by using a counterfeit bill detector pen, which can be purchased from retail and office supply stores. This special pen will produce a black mark on any bill that is NOT genuine U.S. Currency. Genuine U.S. Currency will display a light yellow marking. Genuine currency also carries a watermark of the President portrayed on the bill. If a suspicious bill is received, check for multiple security features such as the watermark, the security thread stating the denomination, and the color shifting ink on the denomination number located in the lower right corner of the bill.

To learn more about security features and detecting counterfeit currency, go to the following link on the worldwide web: http://www.secretservice.gov/money_detect.shtml
Persons receiving suspected counterfeit bills and those with information regarding counterfeiters are requested to contact the DeFuniak Springs Police at 892-8513.

DeFuniak Springs Police have responded to numerous reports of counterfeit currency in the community. Most of the currency involves counterfeit twenty dollar bills with the same serial numbers. Businesses and citizens are urged to double check their currency for security features to insure it is genuine. The counterfeit bills obtained are good copies, but lack the security features of genuine bills.

One of the easiest ways to detect a counterfeit bill is by using a counterfeit bill detector pen, which can be purchased from retail and office supply stores. This special pen will produce a black mark on any bill that is NOT genuine U.S. Currency. Genuine U.S. Currency will display a light yellow marking. Genuine currency also carries a watermark of the President portrayed on the bill. If a suspicious bill is received, check for multiple security features such as the watermark, the security thread stating the denomination, and the color shifting ink on the denomination number located in the lower right corner of the bill.

To learn more about security features and detecting counterfeit currency, go to the following link on the worldwide web: http://www.secretservice.gov/money_detect.shtml
Persons receiving suspected counterfeit bills and those with information regarding counterfeiters are requested to contact the DeFuniak Springs Police at 892-8513.

DeFuniak Springs Police have responded to numerous reports of counterfeit currency in the community. Most of the currency involves counterfeit twenty dollar bills with the same serial numbers. Businesses and citizens are urged to double check their currency for security features to insure it is genuine. The counterfeit bills obtained are good copies, but lack the security features of genuine bills.

One of the easiest ways to detect a counterfeit bill is by using a counterfeit bill detector pen, which can be purchased from retail and office supply stores. This special pen will produce a black mark on any bill that is NOT genuine U.S. Currency. Genuine U.S. Currency will display a light yellow marking. Genuine currency also carries a watermark of the President portrayed on the bill. If a suspicious bill is received, check for multiple security features such as the watermark, the security thread stating the denomination, and the color shifting ink on the denomination number located in the lower right corner of the bill.

To learn more about security features and detecting counterfeit currency, go to the following link on the worldwide web: http://www.secretservice.gov/money_detect.shtml
Persons receiving suspected counterfeit bills and those with information regarding counterfeiters are requested to contact the DeFuniak Springs Police at 892-8513.

Investigators with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office are looking for the people responsible for two car burglaries in the Magnolia Beach Road area of Panama City Beach. The burglaries occurred on August 20, 2010, at about 4 am. Electronics, cash, sunglasses, and credit cards were taken.

At about 5 am the same morning, two individuals were captured on security video as they purchased about $90 dollars in merchandise from the Wal-Mart on Panama City Beach using one of the stolen credit cards. The man and woman bought t- shirts, underwear, bottled water and sodas, and beer. The couple was driving a late 90’s SUV, white with dark trim.

Anyone with information on the identities of these suspects is asked to call Investigator Albert Willis at the Bay County Sheriff’s Office at 248-2128, or Crime Stoppers at 785-TIPS.

A well connected to an oil and gas production platform caught on fire in the Gulf of Mexico Thursday, engulfing the vessel in flames about 100 miles off the central coast of Louisiana and forcing 13 people overboard, Gov. Bobby Jindal said.

All 13 people have been accounted for, said Petty Officer Bill Colclough of the Coast Guard. They were found floating on a raft, officials said. Mariner Energy, which owns the Vermilion Oil Rig 380, said none of the crew members was hurt in the incident, despite earlier reports of a single injured worker.

Also, Mariner indicated that the fire—which was first reported to the Coast Guard by workers on a nearby rig around 9:20 a.m. (10:20 a.m. ET)—was not sparked by an explosion. It started at one of the platform’s seven active wells, the company said, though its cause is under investigation.

The company said an initial flyover of the site indicated “no hydrocarbon spill.” However, Coast Guard Petty Officer Elizabeth Bordelon said there is a sheen on the water at the site of the platform, measuring about 100-feet wide and stretching for one mile.

The fire at the platform is not out yet, but it has been contained, she said.

Jindal said that Mariner has told him that all seven wells have been closed off and that what is burning now is from fuel in storage, and not from an active leak.

During the last week of August, production from the platform averaged approximately 9.2 million cubic feet of natural gas a day and 1,400 barrels (58,800 gallons) of oil, the company said.

David Reed, a paramedic on board a nearby oil rig, said he suddenly saw “a bunch of smoke” from the direction of the Vermilion platform, and radios in his rig’s control room started “lighting up like a Christmas tree” soon after.

The incident comes nearly five months after the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded April 20, killing 11 people and causing a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico—one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history.

That oil rig, contracted by BP, had 126 workers. It burned for three days before finally sinking.

Thursday’s incident took place aboard a production platform, which is built after a well is drilled and remains in place for years. Oil rigs drill the wells. The platforms pump pressure down the hole to keep the well flowing, and sometimes collect the oil or gas, or both.

U.S. agencies and BP capped the ruptured Deepwater Horizon well July 15, stopping the flow of oil into the Gulf. The effects of the huge spill could hurt the region for years.

The failure of the well’s blowout preventer triggered the April 20 explosion, and crews are expected to remove the equipment from the well since it may hold valuable forensic evidence as to why it failed.

The Obama administration tried to impose a six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling in the wake of the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon in April, but the ban is currently in legal limbo.

A group of companies that provide boats and equipment to the deepwater drilling industry sued to overturn the ban and won in June.

The government tried again in July, imposing a new moratorium and asking for the suit to be thrown out. A federal judge refused this week to dismiss it.

The Vermilion platform did not violate the moratorium, said Melissa Schwartz, spokeswoman for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, which replaced the Minerals Management Service.

“This was an oil and gas production platform in approximately 340 feet of water, 102 miles offshore Louisiana (80 nautical miles),” she said. “This platform was authorized to produce oil and gas at this water depth. The current suspension involves drilling rigs in water depths greater than 500 feet,” she said.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Thursday that the federal government has “assets ready” to respond to any environmental problems resulting from the fire on the Vermilion structure.

Mariner Energy describes itself as one of the leading independent oil and gas exploration and production companies in the Gulf of Mexico. The company said it had interests in about 350 federal offshore leases last year, with more than 110 of the 350 in development.

The company has about 300 employees. Its most recent quarterly net income was $1.7 million.

Shares of Mariner Energy slipped 5 percent Thursday after the fire was reported. Shares of Mariner Energy fell $1.16 to $22.19.

The company is in the process of a planned merger with a larger company, Apache Corporation. The merger is about four to six weeks away from completion, an Apache spokesman said.

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced yesterday that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

United States Army Sgt. Charles P. Whitler will be buried Sept. 2 in his hometown of Cloverport, Ky.

In early November 1950, Whitler was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, occupying a defensive position near the town of Unsan by the Kuryong River known as the “Camel’s Head.” Two enemy elements attacked the U.S. forces, collapsing their perimeter and forcing a withdrawal. Whitler’s unit was involved in fighting which devolved into hand-to-hand combat around the 3rd Battalion’s command post. Almost 400 men were reported missing or killed in action following the battle.

In late November 1950, a U.S. soldier captured during the battle of Unsan reported during his debriefing that he and nine American soldiers were moved to a house near the battlefield. The POWs were taken to an adjacent field and shot. Three of the 10 Americans survived, though one later died. The surviving solider provided detailed information on the incident location.

Analysts from DPMO developed case leads with information spanning more than 58 years. Through interviews with eyewitnesses, experts evaluated circumstances surrounding Whitler’s captivity and death and researched wartime documentation of his loss.

In May 2004, a joint U.S.-North Korean team, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, excavated a mass grave near the “Camel’s Head.” An elderly North Korean man reported he had witnessed the death of seven or eight U.S. soldiers near that location and provided the team with a general description of the burial site.

The excavation team recovered human remains and other personal artifacts, ultimately leading to the identification of seven soldiers from that site, one of whom was Whitler.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used dental comparisons and mitochondrial DNA - which matched that of Whitler’s sister and niece - in the identification.

More than 2,000 servicemen died as prisoners of war during the Korean War. With this accounting, 8,022 service members still remain missing from the conflict.

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call 703-699-1420.

BP hasn’t closed the book on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, but it has turned the page.  The latest chapter in the company’s saga involves a transition from response to recovery mode.  According to company officials, that means re-focusing efforts and not reducing them.

Officials from BP, the U.S. Coast Guard and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) briefed Bay County emergency management officials and community leaders on the changes Wednesday.

“We know that there’s a long term effort that we have to continue to execute the cleanup operations,” said Mary Shafer-Malicki, BP’s Deputy Incident Commander for Florida.

Shafer-Malicki said efforts will now also include a move toward restoration operations.  Support organizations previously based in Mobile, Alabama will move into a newly-created branch office in Pensacola.  “So it will be a state focused organization… planning, finance, logistics will all be here in Florida,” she said.

Under the revised structure, BP will continue to respond to reports of oil or tar balls on beaches while seeking opportunities to improve areas damaged by the oil leak.

Fishermen and environmentalists have expressed concerns about subsurface oil.  But Gary Petrae of NOAA’s scientific support team said oil-eating microbes existed in gulf waters long before the BP leak and have already proved valuable in controlling emissions from an estimated 3,000 natural “seeps” in the Gulf of Mexico.

“They put out approximately five hundred thousand barrels of oil every year into the gulf, so it’s a natural ecosystem that exists out there,” said Petrae.  “Over time, there have been bugs that have evolved to actually consume that carbon.”

Petrae said the microbes “ramped up” their oil eating activity when the leak occurred, decreasing the threat of long-term damage.

Meanwhile, BP said the company remains committed to long-term damage control.

“Is that two years… is that three years… it’s going to be as long as it needs to be to make sure that we clean up and complete all of those restoration operations,” said Shafer-Malicki.

Tourism officials say attracting visitors to Panama City Beach has been a “tough sell” this summer, due in large part to the Deepwater Horizon incident.

But Dan Rowe of the Tourist Development Council is optimistic that the beaches will be crowded over the Labor Day weekend.

“There’s a lot of pent up demand for coming to the beach,” said Rowe.  “The oil well has been capped and killed and so we think that this weekend’s going to be very strong.”

Rowe said the TDC hopes to prolong the tourism season by sponsoring a number of events over the next month.

More than four months after a Bay County landmark burns down, talk of building it back up continues.  However, that might not be the case for the Treasure Ship restaurant.  Owners now have a demolition permit.

The county granted the permit on June 18th.  Even though they filed for one, it is still unclear whether or not Treasure Ship owners will actually use the permit.

Currently, a decision has not been announced to rebuild. It has been tough to get answers because the owners of the restaurant are in the middle of a lawsuit against Bay County.

Ironically, the same day the ship caught fire, the owners of the restaurant filed an eminent domain complaint through the Wex-Tex Holding Company.

The complaint was in reference to the county taking private property for the Grand Lagoon Bridge project.  The Treasure Ship’s attorney said Wednesday, the county and the restaurant are now in mediation over the situation.  Both parties are under gag orders, and can’t talk to the media.

The Treasure Ship’s lawyer says the gag order will be lifted if the restaurant and the county reach an agreement.

News 13 will stay updated with any changes.

Running water is necessary to run a day care that serves children with disabilities.

“They can’t go and have their complex medications given to them or a medical condition monitored and here they’re able to do that,” said Executive Director, Kimberly McManus.

McManus manages the facility for United Cerebral Palsy of North Florida. To function properly the utility payments must flow regularly.

“Absolutely important, we can’t operate without them,” said McManus.

So when Bay County staff suggested putting her bills online, she felt a small weight lifted off her shoulders.

“It will be very, very nice to sit in front of the computer and do that and have it done and out of the way and not worry about running around and paying these bills or getting them through the mail on time,” said McManus.

However, she’ll have to wait a little longer, along with the other 6,500 people connected to the county system. The program won’t be in place for another 2 months. When it’s ready, it should work smoothly.

“I think it’s convenient for everybody all the way around,” said Bay County Spokesperson, Valerie Lovett.

According to Lovett, the software costs $5,000 dollars a year to operate but requires no user fee.

“It’ll be free if you want to pay your water bill online,” said Lovett.

And that’s a blessing to the Bay County group.

“It will be one less thing to worry about absolutely,” said McManus.

The county plans to send notice when it starts. However, it’s important to note the internet will not be the only way to pay your bill. All other options, like mailing it in, remain open.

It’s been over a week since independent administrator Ken Feinberg took over the oil spill claims process from BP.  Reviews of the new process are mixed, some say it’s a friendlier experience, some say it’s quicker, but few say they’ve gotten paid.  Rick Dorman owns Pink Pelican Ice Cream on Front Beach Road.

“It’s very hard for a new business here to follow their basic guidelines in regards to documentation,” Dorman said.

His business opened in March, and the claims process requires 2-3 previous years of tax returns with which to compare the spill months.  Dorman supplied city tax records of the previous owner’s returns to show what he could have done had tourism not taken a dive on the beach.

“When you take those people out of the picture you affect everyone’s business that’s located along here—including mine,” Dorman said.

“[After submitting my claim] I was told someone would contact me—nobody’s contacted me, so I’m starting to feel frustrated and a little nervous.”

Claims Facility Spokesperson Debra Reed said they’re trying as hard as they can to process the thousands upon thousands of claims they’ve received.

“We’re working 24-7 to get those claims out the door,” Reed said.

“Unfortunately what we’re seeing with these claims is a lack of documentation in some cases.”

Then she said the claimants have to go home and try to come back with what’s needed.

“There is always room for improvement,” Reed said.

“This being the second week in, we’re working to redress any deficiencies in the process.”

A threatening message aimed at students creates a state of hysteria today at Mosley High School, according to Principal Sandy Harrison.

More than 400 students chose to stay home or leave early from school Wednesday because many were worried about their safety.

“My grandmother called and said I needed to leave because she didn’t feel it was safe for me to be here,” said Mosley High student Macey Tillman.

These girls checked out of school before lunch because of a message written on a bathroom stall wall about a week ago.  It said, “On September 1st at 1:45 pm, I will kill everyone in the school.”

“It was kind of scary.  I’ve never been threatened anywhere at any school,” said Tillman.

“It didn’t list particular students, didn’t list a racial group, a cultural group or teachers or anything,” said Harrison.

She says the rumors started flying even though the student who wrote the message was quickly taken out of school, and deemed a non-threat.

“Students are talking to one another, texting each other.  I reassured them this morning again on the announcements Mosley is as safe today as it was yesterday as it will be next week,” said Harrison.

According to the Bay County Sherrif’s Office, the student that confessed to the threat has been suspended and is not on campus.  Officers and the administration took the threat very seriously even though the student claimed it was a joke.

“It’s not a joke and it’s not taken as a joke,” said Major Tommy Ford of BSCO.

The sheriff’s office put two extra student resource deputies on campus and administrators made parents aware of the situation through a mass phone call.

“We’ve taken the necessary steps to protect the students and discipline through school administration,” said Major Ford.

Even though the extra steps didn’t stop students from leaving, Principal Harrison and law enforcement believe everyone is safe.

The sheriff’s office says the student will most likely be expelled but isn’t facing any criminal charges. 

College enrollment numbers are climbing at Gulf Coast Community College.

“Overall, we are showing a five-percent increase with all of our student body and different categories,” said Gulf Coast Community College President Dr. Jim Kerley.

Gulf Coast freshman and recent high school graduate Kenneth Fisher wants to be a physical therapist. He says he can’t do so without higher education; an example of why people go to college…to get a job.

“Better jobs really, and if you got a career you want to search or go into, it’s a better opportunity for your careers,” said Fisher.

The president of Gulf Coast, Dr. Jim Kerley agrees, saying college offers better opportunities, especially for those living unemployed in this economy.

“People are trying to retool and get better tools to get a better job out there I think that is one reason,” said Kerley.

Enrollment numbers are rising in across all areas of the school, including transfers, vocational classes, and online learning classes.

Gulf Coast isn’t the only college in Bay County that has seen a rise in student enrollment; FSU-PC has also seen a rise of about ten-percent.

“Two years ago we were at 962, last year we were a little over 1100 and this year we are a little over 1200,” said FSU-PC Dean Dr. Ken Shaw.

FSU-PC currently gets funding from the main campus in Tallahassee, but when the population of students gets big enough, then there will be enough funding from tuition and fees within the branch to support itself.

Dean Ken Shaw sees the positive in a negative economic situation believing enrollment numbers will continue to rise.

“Anytime there is a downturn in the economy, students typically, or people want to go back and advance themselves to get a quality education,” said Shaw.

If you are interested in enrolling at Gulf Coast Community College you can click here to visit their website.

For information on Florida State University Panama City you can click here.

Toriano Decoryell Grant, 25, of Marianna, was sentenced Wednesday to 50 years in prison for beating a Cottondale man to death and robbing him of $22. Grant pleaded straight up on June 7 to second-degree murder, meaning there was no agreed-to sentence, and left it to Circuit Judge William Wright to pick an appropriate penalty.

Grant was one of four men charged in the death of 75-year-old Alfred Matthew Delk, who was lured out of his Cottondale home the morning of Sept. 15 by one of the four defendants, then attacked in his driveway and robbed of $22. Grant beat Delk with a piece of concrete, which caused his death a week later.

Grant was the last of the four to resolve his case and the last to be sentenced. Joshua Pullum, 22, and Kendrick Brown, 21, entered pleas to being principals to robbery with a deadly weapon. Brown, who did not cooperate with prosecutor Shad Redmon in his case against the other three, was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Pullum, who testified against one of his codefendants, received 20 years behind bars.

Willie Lloyd III, 23, was convicted at trial of being a principal to robbery with a deadly weapon and received 50 years in prison.

Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen announced today the arrest of a suspect in a theft case involving televisions at two local Wal-Mart stores.

Security cameras caught the image of a man stealing flat screen televisions at two area Wal-Mart stores. Three separate incidents occurred, beginning on August 17 and ending this past weekend with a total of six televisions taken. Investigators were able to match Joseph Griffin to the images of the suspect in the store. Griffin also drove a green Pontiac Plymouth Voyager which matched the vehicle the suspect used in the theft of the televisions.

Two charges of Grand Theft were placed on Griffin, who was already incarcerated in the Bay County Jail on other charges. Griffin had been arrested by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office on August 30, 2010, and charged with child neglect and drug charges. Griffin had recently been released from prison and had contacted his wife in Bay County and asked to see their child, now 18 months old. Griffin’s wife agreed to allow Griffin a take the child for a visit, but when she attempted to contact him to make arrangements for the return of the child she could not find him or the child. Griffin was no longer staying at the motel he had told her he would be staying with the child. Griffin’s wife then contacted his parents who had not seen him since Sunday, August 29, 2010.

On Monday, August 30, BADGES officers spotted Griffin with the child leaving an area with suspected drug activity. A traffic stop on the vehicle was done and the child was returned to the mother and Griffin was found to be in possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia. Investigators believe Griffin may be connected to several home burglaries in Bay County. The investigation is ongoing with additional charges expected.

September 1, 2010
ALERT - PRECAUTIONARY BOIL WATER NOTICE

Due to a recent compromise in the Regional Utilities distribution system,
The residents of East Hewett Road, Longleaf Circle, Peachtree Circle, Royal Palm Blvd and Bay Circle Drive are advised to boil all water which is utilized for drinking or cooking purposes.  A rolling boil for a period of one minute is sufficient to render the water microbiologically safe.  Residents are also advised to take precautions when bathing, especially immuno-compromised individuals, infants, or the elderly.

The Regional Utilities system lost pressure on Wed. Sept. 1st, 2010 at approximately 3:00 P.M. A loss in system pressure may cause discolored water and could cause backsiphonage of contaminants, such as E. Coli bacteria, into the water system.  Water containing E. Coli bacteria can be considered safe for drinking and cooking after vigorously boiling the water.  The water system is currently collecting samples to determine if the presence of E. Coli bacteria exists within the water system.  The Regional Utilities system is presently taking action to correct this problem, however, this notice shall stay in effect until such time as it is determined that the water is safe to drink.  A public announcement will be made to rescind that boil water alert at that time.  All questions should be directed to Regional Utilities at 850-231-5114.

Jason Reddick
Superintendent of Water Operations
Regional Utilities
4432 East U S Highway 98
Santa Rosa Beach FL 32459

The Bay Area Drug Gang Enforcement Squad, also known as BADGES, removed approximately 8 pounds of Marijuana from hitting the streets of Bay County.

BADGES along with the U.S. Postal Inspector’s Office were made aware of suspicious package. The Panama City Police Department’s K-9 Turk was brought in to the Post Office and indicated the package had drugs inside.

A search warrant was then obtained and the package was opened confirming the presence of marijuana. The package was then resealed and delivered to the indicated address. The package was then accepted by two males identified as Dashae Terrell Lucas and Dwayne Kentrell Davis.

Lucas and Davis attempted to leave the area and were stopped by the BADGES task force. A search warrant was obtained for their residence and resulted in weapons and drug paraphernalia being discovered. Lucas and Davis were arrested at approximately 12:00 P.M. on August 31, 2010 without incident. Their charges are listed below:

• Dashae Terrell Lucas, 24 years of age, charged with Keeping or Maintaining A Drug House, Possession Of Marijuana With Intent To Distribute, Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia, and being a Fugitive From Justice.

• Dwayne Kentrell Davis, 22 years of age, charged with Keeping Or Maintaining A Drug House, Carrying A Concealed Firearm, Possession Of A Firearm In The Commission Of A Felony, Possession Of Marijuana With Intent To Distribute, Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia.

Jurors on Tuesday found that Bruce J. Berry, one of the worst sexual predators to be tried in Bay County, should be committed to a treatment center indefinitely as he was likely to reoffend if he was released from confinement.

The finding came at the end of a Jimmy Ryce trial for Berry, 38, who was set to be released from prison after serving a sentence for aggravated battery. Assistant State Attorney Zachary Taylor, who works part-time for the State Attorney’s Office handling only Jimmy Ryce cases, told jurors that Berry, who molested children in Nevada, Tennessee and Panama City, scored as one of the worst offenders on the scale determined by a standard state test. Of those pedophiles with similar scores, half were likely to re-offend within 15 years.

Taylor told jurors in his opening statement that Berry was convicted in 1992 in Las Vegas, Nev., of lewd activity with a minor and sexual battery on 6, 7 and 9 year old girls. Berry was convicted in 1993 of aggravated sexual battery on a 13-year-old girl in Nashville, Tenn. He spent about 10 years in prison on both cases.

In 2003, Berry was charged in Panama City with sexual battery on a person younger than 12, a felony punishable by up to life in prison, for having sexual contact with a 3-year-old girl. In 2005, Berry pleaded no contest to aggravated battery in that case and was sentenced to seven years in prison. With his release pending, Berry was held in prison under Jimmy Ryce requirements until his case could be evaluated by a jury.

Taylor told jurors that their job was not to find that Berry would re-offend, only that he was likely to re-offend. After the verdict, Circuit Judge Don T. Sirmons ordered Berry’s indefinite commitment to a center in Arcadia.

The Jimmy Ryce Act was enacted in 1998 for officials and jurors to evaluate sexual offenders to determine if they would pose a danger to the community if released from prison and if they warrant indefinite civil commitment for treatment and counseling. Nine-year-old Jimmy Ryce was abducted, raped and murdered in Miami-Dade County on Sept 11, 1995, by Juan Chavez.

The Division of Public Safety at Gulf Coast Community College held a graduation ceremony on August 19 for the Law Enforcement Academy (class #17) and the Firefighter Minimum Standards Class (FFMS #30).

The guest speaker at the event was Captain Les Nelson, a retired captain of the Florida State Fire Marshal’s office.

The following GCCC students were recognized with special awards:

Jarrod Arnold received the Charles H. Abbott Academic Award;

Roy Albright, Jarrod Arnold, Robert Burch, Steve Everage, Ivan Butsikov, Logan Johnson, Dustin Latham, David Peavy, Stan Pokhilko, Jonathan Purvis, and David Soto received Perfect Attendance Awards;

Dustin Latham received the Jerry W. Prater Academic Achievement Award;

Jarrod Arnold received the Kevin S. Kight Memorial Law Enforcement Scholarship;

David Peavy received the Top Gun Award;

Roy Albright received the Firefighter Challenge Award

Students who graduated were:

FIREFIGHTER MINIMUM STANDARDS

Roy O. Albright

David M. Boyd

Ivan M. Butsikov

Joshua A. Cooper

John W. Crites

Loren Frasier

Jeffrey A. Gilmore

Patrick R. Goen

Logan D. Johnson

Dustin M. Latham

Zachary J. Litgen

Joshua K. Mayfield

Bradley A. Parnell

Daryl A. Paul

Stan A. Pokhilko

Johnathan C. Purvis

Marcus D. Renda

J. J. Roberts

David E. Soto

Robert D. Stephens

Nicholas Stillwagon

Mark A. Thomas

Christopher Thompson

Oleh Tuzhanskiy

LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY

Jarrod R. Arnold

Robert D. Burch

Travis S. Cutting

Steven E. Everage

Charles N. Giberti

Amber N. Harp

Timothy Lee

David W. Peavy

Kenneth L. Price

To ease traffic congestion and insure safety along the roadways in northwest Florida, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has directed construction contractors working on state roads to cease operations during the Labor Day weekend.

There will be no work on state roads requiring lane restrictions from Friday September 3 through Monday, September 6.

All major roads in northwest Florida will be open to normal traffic.

An upset stomach can be miserable, and that’s what you need to watch out for this week. Dr. Timothy Nichols from Emerald Coast Urgent Care in Panama City Beach says Gastroenteritis is one of the illnesses going around.

He says symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, body aches and headache. Symptoms that are especially alarming and could signal a more serious illness are “vomiting and/or diarrhea that won’t stop, passage of blood, significant or increasing abdominal pain, high fever and dehydration.”

If you develop any of the symptoms mentioned, you should see a doctor to determine the right course of treatment.

Decades of memories are just a pile of rubble and progress is tempered with sadness in Port St. Joe.  The building that most recently housed offices of the St. Joe Company is being torn down.

“I remember walking up those stairs as a kid and looking for a job at the paper mill,” said Gulf County commissioner Bill Williams.  “It holds a lot of memories for a lot of people in our community.”

“I guess that’s what progress is about,” said Melvin Magidson, mayor of Port St. Joe.  “It hurts some people just to see it gone, but I guess time will heal those wounds.”

A photograph in the 1962 Annual Report of the Alfred DuPont Estate describes the property as a “new, modern office building” for the Apalachicola Northern Railroad Company.  The railroad was a subsidiary of the St. Joe Paper Company, which was owned by the estate.

Eighty-seven year old Betty Mims of Port St. Joe worked for the railroad for 41 years.  She remembers when the building was constructed and said it makes her feel old to see it finally torn down.

“I had good times and bad times in it and it’s progress… but it’s a sad day for me,” said Mims.

“It would have been nice to discuss it and talk about some of the historical value and what we could have done with it,” said Commissioner Williams.  “Maybe we could have had some commercial development up top and some city or county buildings up front.”

Plans for the site reportedly include construction of a nationally-known pharmacy.  Mayor Magidson said the addition of a major retailer will add to the city’s tax base, which will benefit the city in the long run.  “It’s just a sign of the times,” he said.

But for some people, the promise of the future won’t replace the memories of the past.  “It’s sad to see something go that you knew when it was built,” said Mims. 

The Mosley High School Gymnasium was a packed house Tuesday Night as nine local cheer squads were participating in the multi school cheer jamboree.

The Mosley Dolphins Varsity Cheer Squad had an impressive routine.
There were 5 high school teams in all performing Tuesday Night. Mosley’s Varsity and JV teams, Bay Highs Varsity and JV squads and Arnolds JV team.

Then 4 Middle School teams took part, Bay Haven, Mowatt, Surfside and Merrit Brown and 2 Elementary schools participated. Highland Park with two teams and then Springfield Elementary brought three teams.

Some Tennessee students on their senior trip lend a helping hand to a Bay County charity today.
73 seniors along with seven chaperones from the Lausanne Collegiate School arrived here Monday.

The students are completing a community service project for the Humane Society of Bay County.

The students are working at the old shelter site on Bay Avenue, and at the 23rd Street thrift store.

The students will be working at the Humane Society again on Wednesday.

A dispute over who fixes this water main break in the Cheri Lane neighborhood has been brewing since Friday.

“We are not bullying them by no means, we just don’t want to lose water, so we are controlling our water loss,” said Parker Public Works Supervisor Cecil Brunson.

The city sent out letters stating Cheri Lane residents were responsible for repairing the leak and need to do so by Wednesday morning.

Residents say after years of flooding problems and water main breaks the city should help out.

“I just hope they step up help us out, cause we are a part of the city of Parker, these houses are right here, it is a low part, but we hope they give us a hand,” said resident Jerome Oliver.

“It’s the city’s pipe, I don’t know I feel like as a resident of Parker, we are a thorn on the side of Parker,” said resident Rebecca Smith.

But the city says since the water main break is past the “right of way”…it is not responsible. That’s when property manager April Pascarella stepped up to the plate.

“Our tenants can’t go without water, I really didn’t feel like it was my responsibility and the city was going to turn off the after tomorrow and I can’t, you know if somebody is renting some place they can’t be with out water,” said Pascarella.

She called a plumber to begin repairs and then contacted other property managers and homeowners who agreed to pitch in for their part of the bill, but residents say it’s just a quick fix to an open-ended problem.

Do you know the proper steps to take when mailing valuables?  One Bay County resident thought he did only to learn otherwise.  In this Problem Solver, his story and tips on what you need to know when mailing important items.
                                                                             
Robert Broccoli knew exactly what he wanted to do with this beautiful diamond ring that once belonged to his late mother.  He says, “Just before Mothers Day…(May 2009)...I figured it was a great time to send my daughter, from my mom, her wedding ring.”  His daughter lives in New Hampshire.  So he took it to a jeweler and got a verbal appraisal indicating the ring was worth $5,000.  The jeweler said he did not have time to provide a written document.  Broccoli says he mailed the ring first class and paid extra for insurance that covered $5,000 which required a signature upon delivery.  But this surprise never made it to his daughter.  The Postal Service conducted a lengthy investigation, but never determined exactly who signed for the ring.  Broccoli says the signature was difficult to read.  When he tried to file a claim, Broccoli hit a roadblock. He submitted a written appraisal for the ring, but it was dated in October which was well after the May 2009 mailing date.  End result, no ring, no $5,000 for the loss.

Joseph Breckenridge with the U. S. Postal Service says, “In retrospect, we wish he would have told us how important this thing was…of course the fact he was insuring it for 5,000 was info enough.  Any other insurance company protecting somebody’s interests and a valuable piece of jewelry would expect to see an appraisal not after the fact but before the fact before the thing was stolen or lost whatever.  I feel a lot of empathy for him…if this had happened to me I would be very upset to.”

Mr. Broccoli did receive a “good faith” Postal Service check for $400.  The USPS says mailing the ring with Restrictive Delivery or Registered Mail would have insured the ring made it to the rightful person.  To learn more about safely mailing your valuables, check this link to the U.S. Postal Service.
U.S. Postal Service

The Bay County commission candidates are energizing their campaigns after the close call in the primary election.

“It’s not over until it’s over and certainly this primary election is proof of that,” said District 4 Commission Candidate, Guy Tunnell.

In the tight Republican race, 47 votes gave Tunnell the opportunity to advance. He’s focused on fueling the economy.

“Certainly we’ve got to be very, very careful about what we are spending money on. We’ve got to make some very tough decisions,” said Tunnell.

He’s no stranger to the political system. Tunnel has run and won several elections including Bay County Sheriff.

“It’s expensive to run a campaign. It’s been like 18 years since I ran a campaign, 1992,” said Tunnell.

That past may prove important to pull in votes for the county’s District 4 seat. However Tunnel’s opponent, Bill Busch is a fresh face that feels there’s a direct advantage in having no political history.

“I believe it’s time for us to step away from the clannish good old boy attitudes,” said District 4 Commission Candidate, Bill Busch.

Busch is a mechanic for the area’s public transit system that claims he will never accept campaign contributions. He’s on the ballot without the backing of a party.

“Well I’m a conservative constitutionalist, running as an independent,” said Busch.

With few signs, he argues speaking straight to the people.

“Usually in panama city, he who campaigns with the most signs wins. Hopefully in this case, it won’t be that way,” said Busch.

Regardless of signs, both candidates are pulling out the stops and putting in the time.

“It’s going to be an interesting campaign process from here out I’m sure,” said Tunnell.   

“I’m going to see how the coin toss works and let the people speak,” said Busch.

The election takes place in November.

The City of Panama City and the police union are once again at odds over unfair labor practices.

The union claims the police failed to follow proper procedures over a decision made in job assignments.

This comes just months after the city determined the union, Teamsters Local 991, used unfair labor practices against them.  Now the union is accusing the city of violating the law.

The union claims officers in the investigation division have been treated unfairly.  An evidentiary hearing was held Tuesday with the Panama City Public Employee Relations Committee (PERC) to determine if that’s the case.

“The unfair labor practice concerns the changes in terms and conditions of employment that occurred in March 2010,” said Teamsters attorney Cecil Gardner.

Some members of the investigations division say it’s been common practice for their assignments throughout the city to be based on seniority, but that changed earlier in the year without bargaining the effects with the union.  Now the union wants it to be made into a standard rule.

“We hope to get an order out of the PERC that requires the city to negotiate with us in the changes in the seniority system they have made unilaterally,” said Gardner.

But the city’s attorney argues seniority shouldn’t be the only way to make assignments and hasn’t always been the norm.  “Different methods have been used over the years in terms of how the zones were used, in terms of how staffing was done, and the status quo was that change could and did occur from time to time,” said city attorney Tony Griffin.

While some detectives say giving priority to senior officers necessary to provide incentive within the department, Chief John Van Etten and the city feel zone assignment is a management issue that doesn’t need to be bargained because it doesn’t directly impact the officers in pay or schedule.

But it’s up to the employee relations committee to make the call.

PERC won’t make the decision on this issue for several more weeks.  It doesn’t affect wage and benefit negotiations.  A third party made recommendations after the city and union came to an impasse. Next will be the city commission’s approval before anything else moves forward.

The Florida welcome center at the Alabama border was probably the safest rest stop in the panhandle Monday morning.  Dozens of officers representing more than 40 law enforcement agencies met there to kick off their “Hand Across the Border” campaign.  The effort is designed to increase law enforcement presence on the roadways over the Labor Day weekend, in the hopes of decreasing traffic fatalities.  Major Eddie Johnson of the Florida Highway Patrol said efforts are paying off.

“We’ve seen a reduction in [traffic fatalities] this past year,” Johnson said.

“[As well as] a reduction in alcohol-related fatalities.”

Sheriffs from Florida, Alabama and Georgia came to the kickoff.  Jackson County Sheriff Lou Roberts pointed to the families of those that lose their lives in traffic accidents every year.

“What happens on our roadways affects everybody,” Roberts said.

“You may not think it does, but in some way it impacts you.”

During the next month the 97 members of Panama City’s Police Department will be undergoing S.W.A.T. tryouts… testing themselves to the highest degree.  And I decided to go through the training myself to see what it was like.

With the sound of a flash bang I think maybe I’ve gotten more than I can handle. These men and women shoot automatic weapons, climb walls, and save lives. As I run in almost 40 pounds of gear…it’s obvious that S.W.A.T. team members are hard core.

Sgt. Manny Gonzalez, the S.W.A.T. team leader explains “…it’s just a combination of everything. A lot of people in the police world just train to shoot static, by standing still. We kind of train to shoot while you’re moving, get your heart rate going, get your senses going a little bit more and almost try to get you to the point where you’re fatigued or tired when you have to shoot. It just makes you a better shooter.”

Because S.W.A.T team members rarely find themselves static. They’re constantly under duress, wearing heavy gear, with all senses engaged.  Gonzalez says “..there are situations where you get into it and you hit that fight or flight situation and you have to react. If you train for it ...it’s just like an athlete…if you train for your job you’re going to play a lot better.”

Team members will tell you the hardest part during tryouts and training is all the physical and mental stress followed by having to shoot…and be accurate with whatever kind of weapon.

Captain Mark Aviles says they look for a specific type of person during tryouts. In fact, most members have a military background “…they’re type a personalities. They strive to do the best they can at everything they do, but they’re more in my mind thinkers. They want to think through a situation…they don’t want to run in, guns ablaze, so to speak.”

Assembling a successful team comes down to trusting the person next to you with your life, because when the need arises, S.W.A.T is called “…when people are in trouble they call the police. When the police are in trouble, they call S.W.A.T…”

Right now Panama City’s S.W.A.T. team has nine members. Next month they’ll hold tryouts to fill 3 other spots.

The Panama City Police Department is investigating several car burglaries that occurred in the Cove area of Panama City.

Sometime during the early morning hours of August 31, 2010 a person or persons entered at least seven vehicles located at different addresses in the Cove area. Most or all of the vehicles were parked in the owners driveways, carports or garages and were left unsecured, so the burglar or burglars did not cause damage to the vehicle when gaining entry.

Also the owners of most of the vehicles did not have valuables in their vehicles so very little property was stolen, however these are still classified as burglaries and are serious felony crimes. The Panama City Police Department has collected evidence and will continue to investigate the crimes.

If you have any information in reference to these or any other crimes please contact the Panama City Police Department at 850-872-3100 or on the web at www.panamacitypolice.com. You can also remain anonymous by reporting your tips to CrimeStoppers at 850-785-TIPS.

Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen announced today the arrest of a Youngstown man on charges relating to the molestation of a 12 year old child.

This morning deputies were dispatched to a home in the Youngstown area in reference to a complaint by the parents of a 12 year old child. The parents stated they had discovered that the child had snuck out of the house the night before to meet a 29 year old male.

Investigation into the incident, including interviews with the victim, yielded information of inappropriate sexual contact between the child and adult subject. The suspect was identified as James E. Parker, DOB 12-23-80, 12108 Happyville Rd., Youngstown. Parker was located by investigators at his residence.

During an interview, Parker told investigators he didn’t remember molesting the child. Parker eventually admitted to touching the child, but blamed the child for the inappropriate contact. After the interview, Parker was arrested and charged with one count of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation and taken to the Bay County Jail. He will go to first appearance before a judge tomorrow.

According to the most recent preliminary figures, Gulf Coast Community College is posting an 5.0% overall FTE increase in enrollment for the Fall 2010 term as compared to the Fall 2009 term. Student headcount is also up 4.8% compared to one year ago.

The highest percentage of GCCC’s student population groups also showed positive increases:

General education and university transfer (degree-seeking) students increased 3.9% in headcount while FTE increased 5.2%

Postsecondary vocational (career-based, terminal programs) classes rose by 6.7% in headcount and 3.7% in FTE

College Prep numbers increased 8.8% in headcount and 6.8% in FTE

E-Learning showed the greatest gains with a 11.6% rise in headcount and 16.6% increase in FTE

Attending GCCC is giving student Astin Berry the opportunity to pursue her dream of making a difference. Hearing nothing but good things about Gulf Coast Community College’s Health Sciences division, Astin, 29, relocated to Panama City, FL, from Tennessee to pursue a career in physical therapy.  She is enrolled in her first semester and has nothing but good things to say about the College.  One of her first experiences on campus helped her to feel right at home. “Being new, I needed help finding my way around.  A College employee who works in the library was leaving for the day, but took the time to walk me to my destination.  I was very impressed with that.”  This experience mirrors Berry’s desire to be of service to others. “I worked in a nursing home and saw people in need.  I was inspired by the healthcare professionals who helped improve the quality of people’s lives. I knew I wanted to do the same thing.”

Student Lawrenso Burroughs also has found his place at GCCC. Selling real estate was a good business for 50-year-old Burroughs until the decline of the economy.  With the uncertainty of an economic rebound, he decided to pursue a new career in social work because he wants to impact his community by helping others. Being local, he found GCCC to be a convenient way to acquire the new skills he will need.  Currently in his fourth semester at the College, he is grateful for the support and inspiration his professors have provided.  “There were times when I felt I was at the end of my rope, but they always encouraged me to hang in there.  The school has done a good job. I’m impressed,” said Burroughs. 

* FTE (Full Time Equivalent) is an enrollment calculation representing one student enrollment of 13.3 credit hours.  All figures are considered preliminary until final numbers are calculated after the end of the semester.

The Washington County Drug Task Force consisting of the Chipley Police Department and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office reports multiple arrests as a narcotics investigation that spanned several months has concluded.

The investigation included the sale of pharmaceuticals, “crack” cocaine and large quantities of marijuana.  Suspects arrested as a result of the narcotics investigation were not only from Washington County, but neighboring counties as well. 

“This investigation focused primarily on high level drug dealers and as a result the Task Force was able to remove many from the community” states Chief Crews.

Arrested was:

Tedrick Torez Keith, 29 year old black male of Chipley, FL

·      Sale and Delivery of “Crack” Cocaine

·      Sale and Delivery of Marijuana more than 20 grams

Corey Lamar Massaline, 33 year old black male of Chipley, FL

·      Sale and Delivery of “Crack” Cocaine

Robert Neil Odom, 45 year old white male of Chipley, FL

·      Sale and Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Methadone)

Bobby Gene Claghorn, 43 year old white male of Chipley, FL

·      Sale and Delivery of Marijuana more than 20 grams

Betsy Anne Green, 45 year old white female of Chipley, FL

·      Principle to the Sale of Controlled Substance

Brandon Lee Butler, 23 year old white male of Chipley, FL

·      Sale and Delivery of Marijuana more than 20 grams

Randall Cain Stevens, 44 year old white male of Chipley, FL

·      Sale and Delivery of Methamphetamines

Jason Bradley Sims, 30 year old white male of Bay County, FL (Arrested in Bay County)

·      Principle to the Sale of Methamphetamines

Jenna McDaniel, 23 year old white female of Sneads, FL (Arrested in Jackson County)

·      Possession of a Controlled Substance without a Prescription

Both Butler and Claghorn were involved in numerous “buys” over the course of the investigation including considerable amounts of marijuana.  Due to the substantial amount of marijuana sold by both Butler and Claghorn, they are considered high volume dealers.

The following individuals are currently at large and are being actively sought at the time of this release:

Wade Daniel Chappell, 18 year old white male of Chipley, FL

·      Sale and Delivery of Methamphetamines

Rebecca Anne Harp, 27 year old white female of Chipley, FL

·      Sale and Delivery of Methamphetamines

·      Possession of Listed Chemicals Used to Manufacture Methamphetamines

Mark Warren Russell, 24 year old white male of Panama City, FL

·      Principle to the Sale of Controlled Substance

Patrick Ryan Walker, 22 year old black male of Campbellton, FL

·      Sale and Delivery of “Crack” Cocaine

Debra Joy Cox, 55 year old white female of Chipley, FL

·      Sale and Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Methadone)

Douglas Ronald Kent, 31 year old white male of Panama City, FL

·      Sale and Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Xanax)

“Both Chief Crews and myself have witnessed the devastating effects of the illegal drug market both in Chipley as well as countywide” states Sheriff Haddock.  “It is a top priority for both our agencies to consistently and uncompromisingly put pressure of each person involved with illegal drug activity and send a clear message, stop breaking the law or find a new place to live.”

Sheriff Haddock ask that anyone with information on illegal drug activity contact us at 638-TIPS (8477) or by email at tips@wcso.us.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has scheduled a series of public workshops this fall to discuss possible fishing regulation changes for red drum (redfish).

The FWC is considering creating regional management areas for red drum and raising the daily bag limit from one fish to two per person in Northeast and Northwest Florida.  The Commission is also seeking public comment on possible red drum rule changes for Southeast Florida.

The FWC encourages interested people to attend the workshops, which will take place from 6-8 p.m. local time as follows:

Wednesday, Sept. 8

Gulf Coast Community College

5230 W. U.S. Highway 98

Student Union East

2nd Floor Conference Room

Panama City

Thursday, Sept. 9

FWC Headquarters

620 S. Meridian St.

Farris Bryant Building

2nd Floor Conference Room

Tallahassee

Monday, Sept. 20

Brevard Agricultural Center

3695 Lake Drive

Cocoa

Tuesday, Nov. 23

Jacksonville Public Library

Southeast Branch

10599 Deerwood Park Blvd.

Jacksonville

Tuesday, Nov. 30

FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute

100 Eighth Ave. SE

Karen A. Steidinger Auditorium

St. Petersburg

Wednesday, Dec. 1

City Hall Council Chambers

123 NW Highway 19

Crystal River

Anyone requiring special accommodations to participate in the workshops should advise the FWC at least five days prior to the workshop by calling 850-488-6411.  If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the FWC using the Florida Relay Service at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or 800-955-8770 (voice).

On 8-30-2010 at approx. 11:30 PM, Officers of the Marianna Police Department responded to a burglary of a vehicle in progress call on Green St. in Marianna.

Four subjects in the area had been observed walking from the scene. When officers arrived in the area the subjects scattered running into backyards and the wooded area off of Kynes St. and Wilton St.

A search of the area ensued in which one the suspects was located and identified as Cassandra Elder.  She was hiding in the woods behind a residence on Wilton St.

Elder was arrested for loitering and prowling, and an unrelated arrest warrant.  While being taking into custody; Elder became aggressive and violently assaulted an officer.

She was additionally charged for assault on an LEO, and resisting arrest with violence.  Elder was taken to the Jackson County Correction Facility to await first appearance.

On 08/30/2010 just after midnight a Gulf County deputy stopped a vehicle for an expired tag during his investigation he found an active “shake and bake” meth lab in the vehicle.

Matthew D. Meredith, w/m 21 and Joseph Tyler Adkison,  w/m 18 were arrested on charges of possession of methamphetamine and manufacture of methamphetamine.

Both Adkison and Meredith were placed on probation during August on methamphetamine related charges. Both are currently being held without bond.

The United Way of Northwest Florida is hosting “Dine United” on September 2nd. Here is a full list of restaurants participating in the campaign.

Arby’s

The Bagel Maker

Barefoot Beach Club

Beef O” Brady’s

Boon Dock’s Restaurant

Buffalo Wild Wings

Captain Anderson’s

Capt. Jack’s Seafood Buffet

Cici Pizza

Calypso’s Beach Cafe

The Cheese Barn

Chula’s

The Cantina Bar & Grill

Dockside Café – Gulf County

Firefly

The Fish House

Killer Seafood

Los Antojitos

Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville

J Michael’s Restaurant

My Best Friend’s Kitchen

O’Charley’s

Outback Steakhouse

Pineapple Willy’s Restaurant

Popeye’s

Provisions – Gulf County

Publix

Red Elephant Pizza & Grill

Sunset Coastal Grill – Gulf County

Spudnuts

Great Southern School of Fish – Gulf County

Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q

Subway - 32 locations, 6 counties

Sonic Drive-In

Smitty’s Barbeque & Salad Bar

TGI Friday’s

The Place

Tom’s Hot Dogs

Thirsty Goat – Gulf County

There are few leads and no suspects in the brazen early Monday morning burglary of a metal recycling plant in Panama City.

Lawmen believe two burglars were involved in the theft at Lewis Metals.  One of them used a saw to cut through a safe and removed an undisclosed amount of cash.

Major Tommy Ford of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office said it appears to have been a professional, well-planned job.  “They actually… cut through chain link fences of probably four businesses to gain access to the back of the [property],” said Ford.

According to Mark Moseley of Lewis Metals, security cameras first captured one of the burglars on video at 11:15 p.m.  He said the burglar cut phone and alarm lines, pried open a door to the business with a crowbar and went straight to an office where the safe was kept.  Moseley told News 13 that a security camera at a business located next door to the recycling facility videotaped a second suspect.

The security video shows one of the burglars casually strolling away from the building.  Moseley said one suspect returned about forty minutes later and went to work on the safe.  Video shows sparks flying off a power saw as the burglar cut a triangular hole in the safe.  Less than ten minutes later, he can be seen removing cash as dust from the sheetrock lining of the safe fills the air.  By 2:00 a.m., the burglars were gone.

According to Moseley, nothing else was taken from the business – leading to suspicion that it was an “inside” job.

“We’ve got some leads that we’re working, but no real solid suspects at this point,” said Major Ford.

The company is offering a $3,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the burglars.  Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call the Bay County Sheriff’s Office (747-4700) or the Crime Stoppers Hotline (785-TIPS).

A celebrity brings new technology to south Walton County to help clean up any oil that might wash up on Walton’s beaches. Now the question is how to pay for it.

The machines are ready and waiting in Houston. A company called BORCO developed the vacuum-like machines to suck oil and tar balls off the sand.

Walton County has the company’s proposal in hand, but now they have to wait on approval from both the county and the Department of Environmental Protection.

This huge machine looks and works almost like a vacuum cleaner, but instead of sucking up dirt on carpet, it consumes oil on the sand.

This demonstration by a Houston-based company called BORCO is led by none other than actor Stephen Baldwin, who brought a proposal to bring this new technology to south Walton County “…I’m here with the thunder response group to be a part of the solution and not just be an individual who looks at Florida and says ‘oh isn’t that terrible that this and that happened over there.’”

That’s why Baldwin teamed up with BORCO and thunder response and made a presentation to Walton County leaders Monday afternoon detailing the beach cleanup equipment and response.

William Cody with thunder response says the two man crews will work like first responders “…in the event that oil does come up, these trucks go out, they take care of the problem, the hoses come back in, and then they go back, just like a fire station would.”

Robbie Hass, the CEO of the BORCO company, says these machines are developed to suck up only oil, not lots of sand the way some beach cleanup machines have proven to do “…the vacuum is controlled hydraulically or simply by manpower. So if it’s like a wad vac and he sticks the hose down there, he holds it off the ground. If he wants to go deeper, you put it closer. I mean it’s real simple.”

Those attending the meeting asked questions, and of course the issue of funding came up. Who’s picking up the tab?  According to Baldwin, BP will have to fund the project.

The project has been submitted to the Department of Environmental Protection for approval. Thunder Response expects to receive that approval soon.

The Wheel of Justice this week lands on 22 year old Quinten Darnell Palmer. Palmer is 6’1” and weighs 149 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.
Investigators say earlier this month, Quinten Darnell Palmer broke into Garrett’s Automotive after business hours. They say he took, keys to vehicles, license plates, a desktop computer and various tools. Investigators say he also removed four vehicles from the property.

A 2004 Red Chrysler, a 2006 Black Honda, a 2005 Aluminum colored Pontiac and a 2001 Green Honda.

Quinten Darnell Palmer faces charges of Burglary of a Business and Grand Theft Motor Vehicle four counts. His last known address is Massalina Drive in Panama City. If you know where he is now, call Crimestoppers at 785-Tips

Cab drivers, like Jim Vandommelen, work the airport everyday.

Some drivers claim to get 80% of their business providing transportation to and from the new Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport.

Vandommelen is worried he won’t have the gig much longer if the airport board decides to bid services out to one single company.  The board voted last week to begin accepting proposals from cab companies. Right now 19 different companies service the airport. 

“It will cut into my income.  It’ll cut into a lot of people.  We will probably loose people,” said Vandommelen.

He believes passengers should have a choice when it comes to cabs.

“When you go to rent a car, you have a choice between four or five rental companies.  When you come out [to get a cab], I think you should have the option to ride in whatever cab you prefer,” said Vandommelen.

On the other side of the fence is the owner of Sunshine Shuttle and Limousine, John Finch.  He’s lobbied the airport for months for the chance to bid out his company for the job.  He thinks it will benefit the customer and the airport to deal with just one company.

“Currently a lot of the ground transportation companies are trying to service a lot of different areas.  They’re going to the clubs at night and those same vehicles are coming to the airport and I think the airport deserves 100% concentration,” said Finch.

He thinks the company should be required to have a new fleet of vehicles, the drivers should be in uniforms, and the level of insurance should be greater than it is now.

It’s up to the airport board to make the call.  Some board members say it may never come to fruition.

They will begin accepting proposals from any interested companies in the coming weeks.

The primary election is at its end. The signatures on the results validate the votes.

“It’s a confirmation that things did go smoothly,” said Supervisor of Elections, Mark Andersen.

Andersen calls this season a success. The numbers were crunched 3 times and varied little.

“Very, very slight differences and that was based on voter intent issues that we all saw. The numbers came right back to where they should,” said Andersen.

Even though the election is over, the counting isn’t.  Several precincts were selected at random for an additional audit to ensure accuracy. It’s not only important for the office, but required by the state.

“We did it randomly, and the law does say random,” said Andersen.

Plus it’s valued by candidates in a close race, like School Board Member District 5. It’s now clear voters selected Jim Barr to go head to head with the percentage leader Steve Moss.

“I’ve already started to work. I have just begun to fight,” said Barr.

“I’m glad that I was on the side that I was with that nice 2,600 vote cushion,” said Moss.

The battle begins again in November.

“To me the people of Bay County have already spoken once in regards to who they’d like to see on the school board,” said Moss.

“Well I think they have spoken based on the number who have actually voted but to me it’s a new game, a new day,” said Barr.

The elections office must do the same to make sure the polling process is perfect.

French, American and Russian dignitaries came to Chipley, Florida Monday morning to honor a man who was a hero to many countries.  One of the most decorated soldiers of World War Two, French fighter pilot Marcel Albert fiercely defended the skies of Europe at a time when the German Luftwaffe was threatening total control.  He scored 24 official kills, and survived in a unit that lost half its fighter pilots.

But in the end, Albert was no match for cancer.  He died in Texas last week at the age of 92.  His great-nephew, Franck Mavigner, said he hopes his Great-Uncle’s story will not be lost.

“When you talk about this to young people they don’t know what you’re talking about,” Mavigner said of Albert’s story.

“It seems so far away and thanks to him and many other people, we live today and France is a free country, we have normal lives thanks to these people.”

Mavigner said Albert’s family in France was sentenced to death by the Germans when they discovered he was a fighter pilot on the Eastern Front.

So how did he wind up in his final resting place in Chipley?  He met his future wife in Europe at a US Embassy, and he went back with her to the United States after the war.  She died a year ago and was buried in Chipley, where her husband now joins her.

The public’s help is being sought by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office to help investigators catch a man believed responsible for the theft of six televisions from area Wal-Mart stores.

The BCSO Criminal Investigations Division today released security video of a man wearing a checkered shirt walking in the electronics section of Wal Mart. Investigators believe this man stole televisions three different times from the Wal-Mart on Tyndall Parkway and Lynn Haven. The first incident occurred on August 17, and the latest incident on August 28, 2010.

The suspect appears to be a white male in his 20’s with a thin build, short dark hair and a goatee. Anyone with information about this suspect is asked to contact Investigator Craig Romans at the Bay County Sheriff’s Office at 248-2075.

The Workforce Development Board of Okaloosa and Walton Counties Teams with Monster.com to Hold Job Seeker Workshops at the Emerald Coast Conference Center.

Free Workshops from Monster.com Career Experts Will Provide Job Seekers with Career Advice and Techniques to Land a Job

The Workforce Development Board of Okaloosa and Walton Counties is proud to announce they are sponsoring two workshops to provide job seekers with the advice and resources they need to find a job and manage their career. 

These workshops will feature Monster.com career experts who will provide information and techniques job seekers need to truly stand out from the crowd in today’s tough job market, including how to access Monster’s interactive career management tools and conduct efficient job searches.  Monster experts will teach job seekers about new resume tips and tricks, how to successfully network, new job hunting strategies, how to successfully use career tools and educate them on what employers are looking for in this difficult market.

Ms. Mary Lou Reed, Executive Director stated “With the job market the most competitive in years, our job seekers need every possible advantage to help them compete with the many other candidates.  By partnering with Monster to offer these unique workshops, the Workforce Development Board and our JobsPlus’ Career Staff want to ensure our job seekers are the best qualified and prepared to meet the critical needs of our local businesses.”

“Monster is committed to helping job seekers access the tools and information they need to find work.” said Lee Ramsayer, Vice President of Sales for Monster Public Sector and Education.  “These workshops are designed to give job seekers the chance to meet face-to-face with our career experts; and to enable them to develop the directions and strategies to make every job seeker successful. We are pleased to be collaborating with the Workforce Development Board of Okaloosa and Walton Counties to help people in the area achieve their goals. ”

The workshops will be held on Thursday, September 9, 2010 at the Emerald Coast Conference Center.  There is no cost to attend but pre-registration is required.  You may register online at www.jobsplusonestop.com , click on the “Jobseeker Workshop” button and complete the application, or by phone at 850-651-2315 ext. 209. The first session will run from 9:00am – 11:30am and include life skills, basic electronic job search and research, tips on choosing a career, resume review, and networking. The second session running from 1:30pm – 4:00pm will include transitioning, detailed resumes, advanced job search, advanced research, networking, trade information, salary information and interviewing. You are not required to attend both sessions.

Additional job seeker workshops can be found in our JobsPlus One-Stop Career Centers.  For more information please visit www.jobsplusonestop.com.

Today, law enforcement agencies in north Florida and Alabama committed to work together over the Labor Day weekend to encourage safe driving and help saves lives. They joined thousands of law enforcement and highway safety agencies across the nation taking part in the “Drunk Driving, Over the Limit, Under Arrest” crackdown on impaired driving which launched on August 20 and runs through the Labor Day Holiday.

“Every year, and every holiday weekend, we continue to see far too many people suffer debilitating injuries and loss of life as a result of impaired driving,” said Randall Smith, traffic safety administrator, Florida Department of Transportation. “This careless disregard for human lives must stop, which is why Florida, Georgia and Alabama’s law enforcement agencies will be arresting impaired drivers wherever and whenever they find them during the Labor Day holiday.”

During today’s 19th annual “Hands Across the Border” event, law enforcement agencies from both states pledged to be vigilant in their enforcement efforts this holiday weekend. Twenty-three people were killed on Florida roads over the 2009 Labor Day weekend - alcohol contributed to 13 of those deaths. In an effort to reduce casualties, law enforcement is taking a “no tolerance” policy toward drivers who are caught impair, unbuckled or speeding.

“It’s clear that too many people still don’t understand that impaired driving is no accident—nor is it a victimless crime,” said Sheriff Robert, Jackson County. “So our message to motorists is simple and unwavering: If you get caught driving while impaired, you will be arrested. No exceptions.”

Statewide in 2009, alcohol was involved in more than 20,085 crashes, 1,004 fatalities and 14,130 injuries. In Jackson County there were:

62 alcohol related crashes

44 alcohol related injuries

9 alcohol related fatalities

“Make no mistake. Our message is simple. No matter what you drive—a passenger car, sport utility vehicle or motorcycle—if we catch you driving impaired, we will arrest you. No exceptions. No excuses,” said Major Eddie Johnson, Florida Highway Patrol. “We will be out in force conducting sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols to get more drunk drivers off the road.”

The sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols will target high-risk nighttime hours. Florida’s 2009 data shows that while the Friday 4 p.m. hour had the highest number of all types of crashes (2,921), the Sunday 12 a.m. hour had the highest number of fatal crashes (33).

“If you are planning to drink alcohol with friends, designated a sober driver before going out and give that person your keys” said Randall Smith. “If you’re impaired, call a taxi, use mass transit or call a sober friend or family member—I promise they’d rather get a call to come pick you up than a call saying you’ve been killed.”

Law enforcement representatives from Florida and Alabama met close to the state’s border to signify their collaborative efforts before beginning their respective enforcement endeavors. Through the combined efforts of law enforcement and other highway safety partners, the “Hands Across the Border” campaign continues to help save lives through education, community awareness and enforcement.

The locating and dismantling of meth labs seems to be the priority of the Washington County Drug Task Force, consisting of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Chipley Police Department, as yet another lab fell victim to the WCDTF over the weekend.

Drug Task Force investigators searched a residence at 2776 River Road in Vernon, FL and discovered evidence of a meth lab, listed chemicals and drug paraphernalia.

Arrested was:

James Norman Parrish, 38 year old white male of 2776 River Road in Vernon, FL

·      Possession of Marijuana More Than 20 Grams

·      Possession of Methamphetamines

·      Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Elta Wynona Wise, 34 year old white female of 2776 River Road in Vernon, FL

·      Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Parrish, who both lived at and owned the home left the scene and was arrested during the course of a traffic stop a short distance from the home.  Wise, who also lives at the residence, was arrested during the execution of the search warrant.

Additional charges are expected pending receipt of laboratory evidence.

Sheriff Haddock ask that anyone with information on illegal drug activity contact us at 638-TIPS (8477) or by email at tips@wcso.us.

Effects of Hurricane Katrina have spread all the way over to the panhandle for many. Former residents of Louisiana and Mississippi now call parts of northwest Florida home, including one restaurant owner in Walton County.

Brenda Darr opened her restaurant, Fire, in an old firehouse in New Orleans just months before Hurricane Katrina hit. Now the restaurant is open in south Walton. It was quite a journey.

Walk into the front French doors of fire restaurant in Grayton Beach and you’ll stare in to the eyes of a humungous Dalmatian dog…a dog that’s been the guardian of fire restaurant in both New Orleans and Grayton Beach “…as I left the restaurant it was the last thing I saw, and it was the first thing I saw when I came back…”...came back after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans five years ago…

Darr describes what she felt ”…it wasn’t scary until I got ready to leave after those 4 days…and as I’m going across the bridge, across the Mississippi and seeing the caravan of emergency vehicles literally one right after the other from everywhere…every state every parish, every county that you can imagine you realize then…even though I saw the water and the flooding and the death…it really became real when you saw all those emergency vehicles.”

Brenda packed up the Dalmatian and 8 members of her staff and moved to south Walton County, bringing the spirit of New Orleans that was swept away with storm “…the city that I loved…I don’t find it there. And you know maybe it’s because I left and I can’t get myself back into it like the people that lived there.”

But some say that home is where the heart is…and Brenda Darr’s heart is with the staff she brought with her to south Walton…all 3 were born and raised in the big easy, and family means a lot, so that’s a big part of the restaurant.

Carl Schaubhut, the executive chef, says “…in this restaurant we have become each other’s family…we have helped each other out after the storm, to rebuild, to move in here, to help clean up there…it was all about us coming together as a restaurant family.”

Chris Mongogna is the sous chef. He describes how it felt opening the restaurant in a new place “…it was worth it…when we first opened the door, we knew it was right.”

Schaubhut explain that “…it was a journey that we all decided on together. Not one of us would have come without the others. So the pieces were all in place to make it happen.”

So until Brenda gets ready to move again…the staff at fire will remember from whence they came, protected and guarded by Sean Payton’s signature, of course, and that huge Dalmatian dog.

A man dies after taking an early morning swim in the Gulf of Mexico.

Police say it happened just before 12:30 Saturday morning in Panama City Beach.

26 year old Kyle Galloway of Cookeville, Georgia was swimming with a few friends.  The friends say they lost contact with Mr. Galloway after being hit by a wave.

At about 6:30 am Saturday, a Coast Guard helicopter spotted a floating body near the Aqua Vista Condos.  Officials identified the missing swimmer as Mr. Galloway.

The medical examiner’s office is trying to figure out exactly how he died.

The cove pig is home for good tonight. He made his way from a bush on Cherry Street to Animal Control and then the Humane Society in the past month.

Today he left Bay County for his new home near Ebro.

The county approached the Humane Society about helping to find this cove pig a permanent home. The little critter that got big attention is out of the hands of the county and into the hands of new owners.

“It is just a little humorous. The thing that just keeps coming to my mind is Babe, pig in the city and instead of that it’s Babe, pig in the woods…”

It’s hard to imagine such a little animal could draw so much attention. But just a week ago the infamous second cove pig wriggled from everyone’s arms, eluding capture. Saturday afternoon he’s safe at the Humane Society.

Terri Davidson is the president of the organization. She says the group agreed to take the pig for a short time and help it find a permanent home “…he’s a cute little fellow! I think he’ll be happy.”

…happy in a new home, that is. The second pig to frequent Panama City’s historic cove neighborhood has made the national news and according to Valerie Lovett with Bay County, it’s par for the course for the town “…Panama City is often fodder for nationwide news. We saw Tiger Woods get divorced here recently…so anything can happen around here.”

The pig, named Arnold by his new owners, rode in the Bay County Animal Control truck to Ebro, where his new owners met him on Saturday.

Although Arnold did protest, his owners are preparing him for a new life in a tract of woods off Highway 20, where recent rooting spots reveal a herd of other wild pigs await for Arnold to play with.

A quick tag marks Arnold, and off he goes, to wander and explore his new home. After all, his owners did name him Arnold after that same pig we all loved in the TV show Green Acres.

Two races were too close to call: School Board Member District 5 and County Commissioner District 4.

And after a tedious and time consuming recount, the results are officially in.

For school board member district 5, Steve moss and Jim Barr will continue to the general election in November.

For County Commissioner District 4, Guy Tunnell barely beat out Derrell Day.

After a tedious two day recount, the results are in!

This morning’s recount began with the School Board District 5 races.

Since the difference between the candidates was less than half of one percent…law requires the county to recount the ballots, by machine only.

Results showed Steve Moss and Jim Barr as the two will move forward to the general election, knocking out incumbent Donna Allen.

The case was different for the county commission seat.

Since primary results showed less than a quarter percent difference between Guy Tunnell and Derrell Day. The poll teams had to double dip their recount, both by machine and manually

“This is a first for Bay County to have a manual recount as well as a machine recount, both issues taking place at the exact same time,” said Supervisor of Elections, Mark Andersen.

Sifting through inconsistent ballots, regulating undetermined ballots, and double checking what the machine lays out…validates the winners as winners. 

Hugs and handshakes follow a short ceremony in Port St. Joe Friday.  Retired U.S. Army Specialist Four Irey Weeks is awarded a Purple Heart.

Weeks was at a camp in Vietnam back in May of 1970, when a mortar shell hit the left side of his head.

“I got part of the first mortar when it came in an paralyzed me,” Weeks said.

The recovery process didn’t start until months later. It wasn’t until just a year ago, when Weeks’ only grandson brought up the fact that his grandfather didn’t have a Purple Heart.

Around that same time, Weeks was doing a little yard work for retired Major General James Simmons. Simmons heard about the war story, and made a shocking discovery.

“Most of the unit thought Mr. Weeks had died in the combat activity. So, the unit did not actually submit him for a purple heart, thinking the Department of the Army would take care of the family notification,” Simmons said.

With a little help, Simmons put together a packet with Weeks’ records, and sent them off to the Department of the Army.

“He told me it had to be presented,” Weeks said. “I told him it had to be as simple as can be.”

Nonetheless, dozens of family and friends showed up to the ceremony Friday at the Port St. Joe city hall. Two members of Weeks’ Division Honor Guard participated too, dressed in traditional Calvary uniforms, carrying the colors.

“You don’t earn a Purple Heart. You’re awarded because you get hit in combat. I was just doing what any American soldier would do, defending my country,” Weeks said.

With a son-in-law still serving in Kuwait, Weeks offers a few words of wisdom.

“Take care and God be with them, and come home,” Weeks said.

Mr. Weeks was awarded his combat infantryman badge Friday.  His son-in-law will be home in December.

You can still attend a Panama City Commission meeting in person, but a growing number of citizens are choosing a modern alternative.  Technology offers a convenient way to watch city business being conducted.

Computers…iPads… cell phones… any device that can connect to the internet can get citizens plugged in to governmental affairs.  The city offers live streaming of public meetings and has an extensive archive of meeting video on its website.

“Transparency and open government is really more than just making stuff available, it’s really about access,” said Commissioner John Kady.  “I think we’ve done a remarkable job making these things easily accessible for people.”

Richard Ferrick is the network administrator for the city.  He says citizens are beginning to embrace the new technology.

“We’ve had quite a few come up during the meeting and tell us that they really liked the approach,” said Ferrick.

Some commission meetings last two to three hours, but if you don’t have that kind of time to invest, you can find the archived minutes of a specific meeting, click on the agenda item, and link directly to the archived video of the commission discussing the item.

“I use it myself [to] access the meeting videos and all the other electronic things that we have here at City Hall to help us do our job,” said Kady.

On Ferrick’s technology wish list is expanded use of a software application called “Skype.”  Its video conferencing feature could save the city money.

“You have contractors or consultants that are out of state [and] we have the ability to bring them in on a Skype connection and have them attend the meeting, be it if they’re in New York or wherever,” said Ferrick.

It’s local government in the sunshine… and in the glow of a computer screen.

NOTE:  To view live video of meetings, you must first download USTREAM Viewer from your portable device’s app store.  Then search under “Panama City” for the video while the meeting is in progress.  To access archived video at the city’s official website, click www.pcgov.org and then click on the “Video Archives” link.

David Ellingson grew up eating snow-balls and now, he’s serving them.

“It’s no snow cone that you got a fair or a circus when you were eight,” said Ellingson.

The idea to open up the shop with his childhood friend came to him when he was visiting Panama City beach.

“There weren’t snowballs here in Panama City Beach, and I said well we are going to have do something about that,” said Ellingson.

He was visiting after his house was swept away by Hurricane Katrina exactly five years ago.

“I was expecting there to be damaged, because there was no pictures, but I wasn’t expecting it at be gone like it parking lot gone,” described Ellingson.

He says like most New Orleans natives, he looks at the glass half-full and thought there was no better time to make a career change…from managing Waffle Houses across the southeast to opening up a snow-ball shop right here in Panama City Beach.

“It made it easy to go, there wasn’t a house to sell there wasn’t a boat to deal with, it just tied up all the loose ends,” said Ellingson.

Residents, tourists and even New Orleans natives all came in to get real New Orleans style food.

“To be able to come just an hour to get authentic no food, it beats driving the five hours it would normally take,” said New Orleans native Dennis Brisolara.

“Everybody has a snowball face, it doesn’t matter how old you are…when you get a snowball in your hand, everybody makes a face, everybody comes in they are happy to be here and they are leaving with a smile,” said Ellingson.

Similar to the smile Ellingson always has, despite surviving his biggest struggle five years ago.

Sorting through the votes could shift the numbers. Today’s recount serves as review of the recent primary election.

“Who knows what voters do when they’re in the voting booth? That’s why it’s secret,” said Mark Andersen.

This time around 2 races were too close to call: School Board Member District 5 and County Commissioner District 4.

According to Supervisor, Mark Andersen, it’s unclear if checking again might make the difference.

“We’ve done the recount process and checked every piece of equipment then we look at the numbers. So it’s one of those that you look at the numbers before you say anything.”

The process is tedious. The ballots in question are kicked out of a machine and sorted into boxes. However, the argument is time is no object when it comes to ensuring accuracy.

“You’re going do your homework all the way through and then you have to count on the equipment to do it properly,” said Andersen.

The closest race is within a quarter of a percent between county candidates Guy Tunnell and Derrell Day.

“We would like to see the winner to be declared precisely by the number of votes cast,” said Day.

Day is the underdog and continues to hope the results may change.

“We’ll see, we’ll see, you just never know,” said Day.

The wait goes on after this machine count ends the county race requires a manual count.

After a second case of rabies in as many months, the Jackson County Health Department is trying to get the word out.

“For all practical purposes in humans,” warned Environmental Health Director T.G. Harkrider,

“It’s fatal.”

The latest case was discovered after four dogs attacked a raccoon that wandered into their territory on August 20. The raccoon was sent to Pensacola for testing, and came back positive for rabies.  That meant the four dogs had to be quarantined Thursday.

Belva Vaughn, facility manager at Animal Control of West Florida, said it’s tough to see.

“Basically they’re just very quiet and very still,” Vaughn said.

“You hate to see them kind of suffer for just doing what dogs do.”

The dogs also wouldn’t have been in their situation had their owners vaccinated them against rabies.  It’s a cheap safeguard, but Vaughn said many dogs go without it in rural areas.

“[Even though] it‘s the law that they be vaccinated for rabies,” Vaughn said.

“And for good reason—because it’s such a contagious disease.”

The Panama City Beach Police Department announces the arrest of Todd Edward Cornell, 41 years of age, of East 26th Street, Lynn Haven Fl.

Management from Mills Heating and Air reported to Panama City Beach Police Officers an unknown person stole 16 rolls or copper tubing and 16 canisters of R22 freon.

Investigators were able to obtain photos and documentation of Cornell selling copper tubing to Lewis Metals.

Investigators served a search warrant on a storage unit Cornell had access to and located approximately $10,000 in stolen air conditioning and heating system parts, supplies and tolls.

The case is ongoing and more charges are pending.

The Panama City Beach Police Department announces the arest of Paul Joseph Palamarczuk, a Panama City Beach resident, on the charge of grand theft.

Investigators charged Palamarczuk after a month-long investigation revealed that he stole over $38,000 from the Spinnaker Beach Club. Palamarczuk was able to steal the money after he began creating ficticious seafood invoices that were billed to Spinnaker from a company that did not exist. Palamarczuk also failed to turn over fees he collected from a wedding that Spinnaker catered.

Palamarczuk had worked at Spinnaker for over 12 years.

Yesterday the Parker Police Department did recover two meth labs in two different locations.  Around 9:30 am police were dispatched to 6401 Oakshore Dr. to investigate two suspicious packages left in a trash dumpster at that location.  These two packages contained the remains of a methamphetamine lab that had just been dropped off at that location.  Police do have leads and suspects identified in this case.

Later yesterday afternoon the Parker Fire department was dispatched to 5205 Marla Dr in Parker.

The fire department did arrive at that location and did find the upstairs of that townhome fully involved in fire.  After the fire department extinguished the fire police were notified about the cause of the fire being met lab related.  Police did recover several items used in the manufacturing of methamphetamines.  Police did arrest two subjects involved in this lab.  Arrested were Travis Lavon Johnson and Alyson Amanda Jones, both of 5205 Marla Dr in Parker.  Both have been charges with Manufacturing Methamphetamines and Violation of Probation.  Johnson was treated at a local hospital for minor burn injuries on Thursday afternoon prior to his arrest.  Both Johnson and Jones were turned over to the Bay County Jail charged with listed offenses.  They both are being held pending an appearance in a Bay County Court on Saturday.

If there is any other questions about these two cases please contact Detective Aaron Wilson with the Parker Police Department at 871-4100.

On Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at approximately 1830, members of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics unit, K-9 unit, and officers of the Carrabelle Police Department, conducted a drug investigation in Carrabelle, Florida. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Craig Tyrone Lowery, age 27, of 115 Liberty Road, Crawfordville, Florida, and Paula Shawnta Lowery, age 28, of 12th Street East, Carrabelle, Florida.
Deputies and officers seized 2.9 grams of Crack Cocaine, 3.6 grams of powder Cocaine, and $555.00 dollars in U.S. Currency.

Paula Lowery was charged with one count, Possession of Cocaine and Craig Lowery was charged with one count, Possession of Cocaine and one count, Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine within 1000 Feet of A Church. 

Additional charges are pending further investigation. 

On Friday, a federal jury convicted Kenneth Marx, 48, of Bay County , Florida, on two counts of relaying hoax threats to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and to a local Panama City television newsroom, announced United States Attorney Pamela C. Marsh, Northern District of Florida.

During the two-day trial, the jury heard evidence that on June 26, 2009, Marx made calls to the FBI and to News13 Panama City, claiming that he had intercepted an email containing a threat to place E. coli bacteria in the water supplies at Eglin and Tyndall Air Force Bases. The FBI promptly investigated the claim and found it to be baseless. On February 2, 2010, Marx was indicted for conveying false and misleading information concerning the unlawful use and threatened use of a biological weapon.

Marx is set to be sentenced on November 10, 2010, before United States District Judge Richard Smoak. He faces a maximum of five years’ imprisonment on each count.

Ms. Marsh praised the FBI and the Panama City Police Department for their swift resolution of the threat and for their outstanding teamwork in the investigation and prosecution of this case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert O. Davis.

The Washington County Drug Task Force reports the dismantling of another meth lab on Holmes Valley Road in Vernon, FL along with the arrest of three suspected meth “cooks”.  Investigators searched a residence at 4233 Holmes Valley Road late Thursday night and found the following suspects in the process of “cooking” meth.

Arrested was:

Michael Andrew Jones, 42 year old white male of Holmes Valley Road in Vernon, FL

·      Elderly Abuse

·      Manufacture of Methamphetamines

·      Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

·      Possession of Controlled Substance without a Prescription

·      Possession of Marijuana

Jamison “Jamey” Haskins, 29 year old white male of Vernon, FL

·      Elderly Abuse

·      Manufacture of Methamphetamines

·      Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

·      Possession of Controlled Substance without a Prescription

·      Possession of Marijuana

Katherine (Kat) Granger, 48 year old white female of Panama City, FL

·      Elderly Abuse

·      Manufacture of Methamphetamines

·      Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

·      Possession of Controlled Substance without a Prescription

·      Possession of Marijuana

Sheriff Haddock ask that anyone with information on illegal drug activity contact us at 638-TIPS (8477) or by email at tips@wcso.us.

The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) transitioned today to a Level 3 monitoring status for the Deepwater Horizon event. State emergency response officials will continue to respond to impacts as they are reported to the State Watch Office and ensure proper cleanup occurs as needed.

“Though the State EOC activation has come to an end, the State Emergency Response Team remains committed to protecting Florida’s coastline from this disaster,” said David Halstead, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. “Our state has a robust system in place for responding to reports of oil product on our shores and we will continue to be vigilant in ensuring reported impacts are cleaned up immediately.”

The State EOC initially activated on April 30 in response to this event. Today marks day 120 of activation, which is the second longest activation in EOC history, behind the 137 day activation for the 1998 wildfire season.

As part of this transition, the Florida Oil Spill Information Line (FOSIL) will deactivate after today. Callers seeking state information regarding the oil spill should view the Deepwater Horizon Florida website at www.deepwaterhorizonflorida.com or call the BP Community Information Line at 1-866-448-5816 or the Gulf Coast Claim Facility at 1-800-916-4893.

The most recent seven days of oil impact reports received by the State Watch Office and any continuing impacts to Northwest Florida’s coastline as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill will be posted on the Deepwater Horizon Florida website at the following link: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/impact.htm. Potential oil sightings should continue to be reported to the State Watch Office at 877-2-SAVEFL (877-272-8335) or by dialing #DEP from most cell phones.

It is likely that beaches in Northwest Florida will continue to receive isolated impacts, mainly scattered tar balls, in the coming months caused by natural tides and weather conditions. It is possible that immediately following any tropical activity, lingering ocean swells and higher tides could push offshore tar ball fields closer to the coast. State emergency management officials continue to coordinate with federal, state and local partners to ensure that any further impacts to Florida’s coastline are removed quickly and efficiently.

State emergency response officials remain dedicated to protecting Florida’s beaches and the health and well-being of its residents, visitors and wildlife. Visit www.deepwaterhorizonflorida.com or follow www.twitter.com/FLDEPalert to learn more about Florida’s response to the Deepwater Horizon incident, find a listing of phone numbers, and more.

On the surface, it’s a good real estate deal for the City of Panama City.  There’s an opportunity for the buyer to expand his construction operation and the city to generate revenue on a piece of land that’s been sitting vacant for years.

But it’s what’s underground at the old Solid Waste Transfer Station property that’s cause for concern.

The station at 1690 Bay Avenue was closed in 1997 and the property has sat vacant ever since.  The city offered the land for sale on an “as is” basis a few months ago and only one prospective buyer came forward:  George Roberts of C. W. Roberts Contracting, Inc.

“It would be a great benefit to us for material storage,” said Herschel Neel, a project manager for the company.  “We’re cramped for space now and [with] it being adjacent to us, it’s ideal.”

C. W. Roberts Contracting, which specializes in asphalt paving and highway construction, operates a facility on property next to the city’s parcel.

“It’s land that’s not really producing anything for the city and we think that we can get some revenue off of that,” said Mayor Scott Clemons.  “Also, it allows the company to possibly expand and maybe create more jobs in Panama City.”

But there’s a potential downside to the sale.  Preliminary tests conducted by Southern Earth Sciences – an environmental consulting company – indicate possible petroleum contamination at the site.  At its August 24 meeting, city commissioners agreed to sell the property for $225,000.  Of the total, $150,000 will be earmarked for environmental cleanup.

“So the city and Mr. Roberts are to some degree sharing in the risk of that and we think that’s a good deal,” said Clemons.

According to Roberts, additional testing to determine what’s required to clean up the site could cost up to $30,000.  The buyer, the city and the environmental consultant don’t expect the total cost to exceed the contingency fund, but there’s no guarantee.  If it does, the city will pay the additional cost – not the buyer.

“We do run some risk, [but] I think it’s a relatively low risk,” said Clemons.  “The flip side of that is if the costs were very low, then Mr. Roberts would have gotten the land for a steal and the city would not have a good deal.”

In the words of City Attorney Rowlett Bryant, “…everybody is rolling the dice on this.”  But the buyer’s liability is limited to $225,000… it’s the city that’s gambling the sales price will cover its bet.

1st Game at Bozeman

Bozeman 13
Port St Joe 6

2nd Game at Bozeman
Arnold 35
Port St Joe 0

3rd Game
Arnold 26
Bozeman 0

Tommy Oliver Stadium

Rutherford 10
Ft Walton Beach 14

Several celebrities are taking over Panama City Beach to kickoff the college football season.  It is all for the World’s Greatest Tailgate Event.

The World’s Greatest Tailgate is another event sponsored by the Panama City Beach Tourist and Development Council under the Summer of Fun campaign.

They worked with a company named ISP Sports to call in several dozen celebrity athletes.

Names like former pro and University of Alabama player Kenny Stabler, UGA’s David Green, and Southern Mississippi’s Ray Guy joined the others at the Hombre Golf Course Thursday in Panama City Beach to kick things off.

The golf tournament was a friendly way to let fans meet their favorite players. It is the start of a whole weekend of events like deep sea fishing.  There will also be a free concert by recording artist Sara Evans Friday afternoon.

Kenny Stabler says this weekend is a great way to kick off some football and to send a very important message too.

“The beaches are gorgeous and the water is fishable,” Stabler said. “This event is meant to help kick off college football season, as well as bring awareness to another part of the country that people need to come and check out.”

The athletes will be in town at various venues to make appearances and meet fans all weekend. The TDC anticipates repeating the event every year.

For a full list of events and details, head to www.visitpcb.org

Melissa Chambers’ path took a turn for the better when she qualified for the Providing Assistance to Homeless Students, or PATHS, program.

“It was a rush of hope, it gave me complete total reassurance that God existed because a program like this was out there,” said Chambers.

She moved in with her sister after her dying grandfather couldn’t take care of her anymore.

“My sister had a small apartment, it was one bedroom, so I slept on the couch,” said Chambers.

The pair didn’t have money to provide health insurance for Melissa.

So in October when fluid in her spinal cord began to grow and put pressure on her brain, her eyesight began deteriorate.

By January she was blind.

Thankfully, the paths program was there.

It’s trying to make sure they have a stable education environment and a chance to learn just live everybody else,” said Homeless Liaison Kay Daniel. 

She said Bay County received 70-thousand dollars of federal money for the program.

She says it provides students with anything they may need for school.

A path perfectly set in place for Melissa.

“I have it so much better than other people it’s not even funny, I’m thankful for everything, every ability God has given me,” said Chambers. 

If you are interested in this program and want to check if you qualify, you can contact the PATHS director, Kay Daniel at 872-4293.

It’s one time that the City of Marianna won’t mind millions of dollars going down the drain—or at least into the drains.  That’s because a $4.8 million stimulus project is underway in Marianna to fix an antiquated water system.  They’ll replace older pipes, water mains, and then redo the roads that run over top of them.

“You know we could have gone in there and cut a four foot wide strip into the road, put the water lines in and put a patch over it,” Dean said.

“But the streets are in desperate need of repair.”

That’s why the city is taking out an $800,000 loan and adding it to their $4 million grant from the Federal Government.  The grant came from federal stimulus funds supplied to the Florida Department of Environmental protection. 

Dean said he’s heard from city residents who don’t appreciate the acceptance of stimulus funds.  But he said he couldn’t see any other decision being made.

“I think it would be negligent to not take advantage of a situation where you are able to make improvements to your community,” Dean said.

There’s a recount scheduled to review the votes. Without it 2 tight races are too close to call: School Board Member District 5 and County Commissioner District 4.

“There will be some numbers that will change, by a great deal, typically not,” said Supervisor of Elections, Mark Andersen.

It’s all about accuracy to Andersen.  If the ballot is bubbled incorrectly the Canvassing Board judges that voter’s intent then duplicates it appropriately.

“We’re giving that voter the benefit of the doubt,” said Andersen.

User error is not unusual.  In fact the elections manual outlines some common mistakes, like a pen mark in the wrong place or an “x” through an unwanted answer. Either scenario would kick a ballot out of the machine.

“This is the right way to do it. You fill in one oval and you leave the other one alone,” said Andersen.

Too many marks counts as an over vote and no mark counts as an under vote. For example, in the school board election there are 2 over votes and 1,800 under votes. It’ll take some time to tabulate that.

“We’re looking at 4 hours of stop, go, just on the 1,800 for the school board,” said Andersen.

Andersen argues it’s worth it.

“It will always be, whatever the voters did will be the results,” said Andersen.

The recount starts Friday morning at 8:30 a.m.

Eleventh Street in Panama City has been a rough ride for drivers for years now.

“We’ve patched and patched it.  It’s become dangerous in a lot of places,” said Bay County Commissioner George Gainer.

But all of that is in the process of changing thanks, in part, to federal stimulus dollars.

Currently, two sections of 11th street are under construction from Tyndall Parkway to Transmitter Road and from Beck Avenue to Florida Avenue.

Its part of a four phase plan to re-pave the entire street.

“It’s going to be a great project.  There’s going to be bike lanes and all kind of things that will be incorporated in most of our larger paving projects,” said Commissioner Gainer.

Gainer says while it may cause some inconvenience for drivers for a few months, the results with smooth roads, bike lanes, and sidewalks, will be worth it in the end.

He says citizens have voiced their concerns about a large giant oak tree on the corner of Balboa and 11th that was in the plans to be cut down due to the project.  But he and others re-worked the project in order to save it.

“We’ve got some beautiful trees and beautiful places in Bay County.  We want to preserve them all,” said Gainer.

For the next few months, the road will stay a little bumpy but in the end it will be a smooth ride.

The bill for the first three phases comes to $4.5 million.  The county is still seeking funding for the final phase.

Thursday Governor Charlie Crist signed Executive Order 10-191.  The order is an extension of the Governor’s declaration of a State of Emergency due to ongoing economic impact from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.  The declaration is amended to reduce the number of counties covered in the Executive Order to the seven most affected counties of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf and Franklin.

Statement by
GOVERNOR CHARLIE CRIST
Regarding Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill State of Emergency

“While we are grateful the Deepwater Horizon well stopped gushing oil more than a month ago, counties in Northwest Florida hardest hit by oil continue to see hotel and travel cancellations. These counties still need our assistance to strengthen their economies, and we must be wise and prudent to do so. I remain committed to helping affected individuals, businesses and local governments recoup any economic losses they experienced, whether due to oil in the Gulf of Mexico coming ashore or the public’s misperceptions about the extent of the oil’s impact.”

# # #

Marianna—A raccoon received by Health Department staff on August 20, 2010 has tested positive for rabies according to lab results received from the Department of Health Pensacola Branch Lab.  The raccoon fought with and was killed by 4 dogs on Autumn Rd., North of Malone.  The dogs have been placed in quarantine to prevent possible spread of the disease.

T.G. Harkrider, Environmental Health Director at the Jackson County Health Department stated that “anyone having knowledge of bites or other exposure from a suspected rabid animal to humans or to domestic animals should immediately contact the Health Department at 482-9227 during normal working hours”.  The Jackson County Health Department has an answering service to relay information for assistance after hours and on weekends concerning animal bites and other exposure. This answering service can be reached by calling 526-2412.  “Please call us with information and questions related to exposure” Harkrider stated emphatically.  “We need to act quickly in some cases to save people’s lives.  Never shoot a biting animal in the head” he added.  “An intact brain is needed to determine if the animal is rabid.  If you shoot them in the head and destroy the brain, we have to assume the animal was rabid.  Without negative lab results, treatment to the victim has to begin.  Please call us!  We are reachable 24 hours a day and 7 days a week through our answering service at 526-2412”. 

Residents are also reminded that Jackson County and the State of Florida have laws requiring vaccination of all dogs and cats.  PLEASE HAVE YOUR PET(S) VACCINATED.

Investigators with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office have developed a suspect in the theft of four vehicles on August 21, 2010 from Garrett’s Automotive at 2626 23rd Street, Panama City.

Information has been developed that connects Quinten Darnell Palmer, DOB 1/6/88, to the theft. A warrant has been issued on Palmer for four counts of Grand Theft and Burglary.

Anyone with information on the location of Quinten Darnell Palmer is asked to call Investigator Robbie Newsome at the Bay County Sheriff’s Office at 248-2120 or Crime Stoppers at 785-TIPS.

The Panama City Beach Police Department responded to the area of the Days Inn beachside in reference to a swimmer in distress.

Upon officers arrival, a witness indicated that they had observed a distressed swimmer approximately 150 yards from the shoreline and had lost sight of the swimmer.

Emergency personnel entered the gulf and discovered a body that was later identified as Keith W. McNalley, 51, from Louisville, KY.

An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death. At the time of this incident, single red flags were displayed.

A project to resurface 11th Street from Beck Avenue to Florida Avenue began this week and will continue over the next few months.

Milling – the removal of the top two inches of pavement – of the entire roadway of 11th Street from Beck to Florida avenues began Monday and was completed Wednesday.

Today, Aug. 26, and tomorrow, Aug. 27, the contractor will mill the pavement at all intersecting side roads from Beck to Florida, and this work will again involve intermittent lane closures on 11th Street near the intersection being milled, therefore motorists should anticipate further traffic delays.

Next week the contractor will pave the entire roadway from Beck to Florida avenues, which will be the first of two layers of asphalt pavement installed, again involving intermittent lane closures.

After Sept. 1, the contractor will spend the following 30 to 60 days working primarily at the intersections, which will involve replacing the existing sidewalk with new concrete curb ramps and the modification of some stormwater inlets. This work should not involve lane closures on 11th Street, but may necessitate occasional lane closures on intersecting side streets.

Upon completion of this work, the contractor will install the final layer of asphalt along 11th Street from Beck Avenue to Florida Avenue.

The 11th Street paving project is expected to cost approximately $1 million and is being funded via federal stimulus dollars. As many as 10,000 vehicles per day travel the roadway being repaved.

U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan today awarded nearly $312 million to 13 states to invest in efforts to reduce the human, physical, and economic toll of future disasters.  The grants announced today are provided through HUD’s Disaster Recovery Enhancement Fund (DREF) and are intended to encourage states to undertake activities and long-term strategies that focus on reducing damages from future natural disasters. 

In the past two years, HUD allocated more than $5.6 billion in disaster recovery funding through its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to these states.  The DREF was established to support the long-term recovery following dozens of natural disasters in 2008.  As a result of having received CDBG funds for those disasters, these 13 states were eligible to receive additional allocations based on the significant investment they’ve made by targeting their CDBG funds to disaster mitigation.

“An ounce of prevention today can spare communities a world of hurt tomorrow,” said Donovan.  “We’re making a serious investment in our future by making certain that when disaster strikes, the impacted communities in these states can weather the storm.”

Disaster mitigation, like those that qualify for funding through the DREF, are a sound investment.  According to an independent study by the National Institute of Building Sciences, every dollar spent on disaster mitigation activities saves taxpayers $4 in future disaster recovery expenses.  The 13 states that received funding through the DREF invested nearly $876 million in disaster mitigation which translates into a total anticipated return on investment of more than $3.5 billion. 

The purpose of the DREF is to reward states that invested CDBG disaster recovery funding in activities that reduce risks from future disasters.  HUD recognizes that while these types of activities are often more expensive in the short-term, they dramatically cut recovery costs over the long-term.  To help assist with the additional cost of mitigating future risk, DREF funds can be used toward projects meeting unmet disaster recovery needs, and those that include:

Ø  Buyout payments for homeowners living in high-risk areas;

Ø  Optional relocation payments to encourage residents to move to safer locations;

Ø  Home improvement grants to reduce damage risks (property elevation, reinforced garage doors and windows, etc.);

Ø  Improving and enforcing building codes; and

Ø  Developing forward-thinking land-use plans that reduce development in high-risk areas. 

HUD is awarding DREF grants to the following states:

Iowa—$84,126,989
Texas—$67,949,391
Louisiana—$32,487,882
Florida—$26,616,675
Illinois—$23,517,970
Indiana—$23,208,985
Wisconsin—$15,276,319
California—$15,000,000
Puerto Rico—$12,000,000
Mississippi—$5,438,712
Missouri—$5,000,000
Kentucky—$500,000
Georgia—$480,000

Deputies with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call yesterday, August 25, 2010, in reference to a verbal altercation at a home on Panama City Beach.

The call was made shortly after 9pm on Wednesday. Deputies arrived to find the woman who lived in the home involved in a dispute with a man living with her. The woman claimed the man had stolen her medication. While one deputy went into the home to determine what kind of medications were missing, the man and two other deputies stayed outside the home on the front porch.

The man suddenly dashed into the home, running into the kitchen. Deputies followed after him and found him rummaging through a kitchen drawer. Deputies demanded the man put his hands into the air but the man continued digging in the kitchen drawer until he found a large kitchen knife. He immediately put the knife to his throat, drawing it across his neck. Deputies attempted to stop the man but could not before he had cut into his neck.

One of the deputies deployed his Taser, gaining control of the subject and stopping his efforts to cut his neck. The knife was secured and a towel was applied to the man’s neck while EMS was called to the scene.

The man was taken to a local hospital by ambulance under the Baker Act where he would receive medical and mental health care.

Along with all those candidates on Tuesday’s Primary ballot, there was a referendum. And Jan Watermeier of the Bay County Economic Development Alliance said she was glad to see it pass.

“We’re particularly pleased since it passed with a 75 percent vote,” Watermeier said.

“Which really indicates to us that our voters are concerned with new jobs in the community.”

The referendum applies to new and expanding businesses, and allows them to exempt certain property taxes if they bring new jobs to the area.  County Commissioner Mike Nelson said he’d worked on the referendum for some time. 

“It’s just a great incentive for us to try and create jobs, and good-paying jobs, for the people of Bay County,” Nelson said.

The referendum is about three decades old, and must appear on Bay County Ballots every ten years by law.  Nelson said it has always passed without much effort.

“Bay County [residents] have always realized how important it is because a lot of companies here have taken advantage of it,” Nelson said.

“And I think that speaks well of the program.”

Watermeier credited the exemption with bringing 2100 jobs to the area over the last decade.

Callaway resident Bob Thompson says he was baffled when the city sent a letter to its residents informing them of a public hearing to discuss and possibly pass a Non Ad-Valorem assessment fee.

“They are trying to keep the city running as it is running now and something needs to be done,” said Thompson.

Thompson attended Tuesday night’s commission meeting held at the city’s arts and conference center.

There, more than 200 residents came out to voice their opinion, but before they did, the Mayor motioned to go ahead and strike down the bill.

“Obviously I don’t agree with it, it’s just a band-aid to cover up what happened last night,” said Thompson.

Thompson says he and other residents feel the city hasn’t spent its money wisely in the past.

Most of the city’s debt comes from a 20.4 million dollar outstanding bond to cover a water and sewage project that was passed in 2005 when the economy was stable.  But in the current economic downturn, not many people are hooking up to the system.

“Each unit added on to the sewer line would have a fee that they would have to pay which in time I think it would happen,” said Commissioner Tom Abbott.

Thompson says striking down the proposed fee isn’t enough. He claims the city has been raising taxes slowly for more than five years.

He says residents at last night’s meeting expressed to the commission that they want to follow suit of Cedar Grove and dissolve the city.

“They were still saying we need to still dissolve the city of Callaway because we don’t trust you,” said Thompson.

Abbott says that wouldn’t be a solution to the problem.

“If we don’t get some improvement in the economy that we are all personally and public life experience, we are facing very difficult issues with budgets,” said Abbott.

Increasing debt and decreasing revenue are problems facing many cities here in the panhandle as they begin budgeting for next year. 

Abbott adds the city will have to dig into reserve funds to pay for the water and sewage project.

He says the city recently found 5.3 million dollars left over from that project, but that will only fix the problem short-term.
   

A number crunch reveals the Bay County votes are too close to call. There are 2 races that must be recounted: School Board District 5 and County Commission District 4.

“At this point all factors lead to a machine recount, a possible manual recount in one race,” said Supervisor of Elections Mark Andersen.

In that closest race it’s a about a quarter of a percent, that separates county candidates, Derrell Day and Guy Tunnell. Both watched the audit that made this distinction official.

“Very humbling to see this in action and have it so close,” said Tunnell.

“Like Winston Churchill said, ‘Never, never give up.’ So we’re going to wait and see,” said Day.

And it takes time to count up all the votes, but accuracy is what counts.

“When it comes to these crunch times we have to be absolutely perfect in what we do,” said Andersen.

However, it’s the not-so-perfect ballots that put the Elections Office in this predicament. Over votes, under votes and provisional ballots must be reviewed by the Canvassing Board.

“It could affect the numbers as we accept,” said Andersen.

These candidates are watching closely as the numbers get checked again.

“The election is still up in the air as far as I’m concerned,” said Tunnell.

“It’s nerve racking, we all want to go home and get some rest, is what we want to do but it’s part of the process,” said Day.

The recount is tentatively scheduled to start Friday morning.

The saying “every vote counts” has a lot of meaning for two county commission candidates in Liberty County.

Tuesday’s election came down to just 4 votes, putting incumbent Davis Stoutamire in the lead with James Bo Sanders right behind him.  Both agree they’ve never seen anything this close before.

“Never heard of a vote that close.  We tied 141 to 141 in one of our precincts,” said Sanders.

“That’s just Liberty County politics.  You just can’t predict what’s gone happen,” said Stoutamire.

The close race calls for a state mandated recount.  All 2,100 ballots will go through the voting machines for a second time. Even though it’s a primary, the final results will name the winner of the race.  That’s because both candidates are democrats and no republicans ran.

But just because they both have played nice throughout the campaign, doesn’t mean they didn’t fight hard.

“My campaign hours run from 5:30 in the morning to 9:00 at night,” said Stoutamire.

“My opponent worked real hard. I worked real hard.  We’ve both beat the bushes,” said Sanders.

The official winner won’t be declared until the recount is complete, but both candidates say they’re proud of their campaigns.

They plan on beginning the recount as soon as they get the technical glitches out of the way.  We’ll have the final results on here just as soon as they come in.

The driver of a private prisoner transport van,with the company USG7 that was involved in an accident on SR-20 has been identified.

The Florida Highway Patrol identified the driver as Lislie Jacques who had been missing since the accident over the Choctawhatchee River on Tuesday.

Jacques body was recovered just south of the bridge today.

He was the driver of the van carrying his wife, Pauline Jacques and two prisoners when it crossed the centerline and impacted the left side of another vehicle while on the Chotawhatchee River Bridge. The van then struck the bridge railing and Lislie Jacques was ejected over the railing and into the Choctawhatchee River.

The Florida Highway Patrol investigated the accident, along with the Florida Fish and Game Commission, Walton County S O, Okaloosa County S O, Jackson
County SO, Walton County S O,Washington County SO, and the Walton County fire Rescue.

The M.B. Miller Pier will close at 6 a.m. Monday, Aug. 30 and reopen at 6 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1 as workers place concrete for the walkway to the concession stand.

The work will be done in the area of the entrance to the pier, requiring its closure. Workers will also complete a permanent water line that stretches the length of the structure, which will require a tie-in and excavation at the base of the pier.

The new M.B. Miller Pier had a soft opening July 5. The project is expected to be fully completed in mid September.

The 470-foot long concrete M.B. Miller Pier was damaged in 2005 by Hurricane Dennis. Bay County partnered with Panama City Beach to replace the pier with one identical to the Russell Pier at Pier Park on the West End of the beach, which will extend some 1,500 feet into the gulf. The new pier is designed to withstand hurricanes, modeled after one in Pensacola that sustained only minor damage in Hurricane Ivan in 2004.

By partnering with Panama City Beach, the county saved some $2.5 million on the pier’s construction. The overall cost of the project to the county was $5.8 million, after a $3.3 million reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Construction began in March 2009. The pier was completed in early July, with the concession/operations building scheduled for completion in mid September.

Weather permitting; beginning Monday, August 30, and continuing for the next two weeks, crews will clear trees at the Wayside Park area north of Vernon on SR 79.

Motorists can expect intermittent lane closures. The work is part of a $ 21.2 million effort to replace the age old bridge and add lanes through downtown Vernon.

Work began in August of 2009 and is expected to be complete by spring of 2012. 

Deputies from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Wal-Mart in Callaway on Tyndall Parkway on August 12, 2010, in reference to the theft of a purse.

The victim stated she had been shopping in the store with her purse in the section of the shopping cart where small children are placed to ride. While shopping in the toy section, she was approached by a black female she described as short and heavy set with short hair pulled back into a tiny pony tail, a black shirt which appeared ragged, and unknown pants. The black woman asked the victim for help in selecting a toy for a relative. The victim spoke to the black female and when she turned back to her shopping cart her purse was gone.

The victim began to yell for help and run towards the exit of the store. As she ran closer to the door she spotted a man with her purse, running towards the exit. According to the victim, the black female who had originally approached the victim yelled at the man with the purse telling him to “Go! I will hide in the store! Get me later!”

An elderly man standing at the front of the store with three male teenagers instructed the boys to follow the fleeing man with the purse. They attempted to stop him but the suspect managed to get to a blue Pontiac Sunfire with no rims and drive away. The black female quietly exited the store before deputies arrived. She was captured on security cameras leaving the store as was the man who snatched the purse.

Anyone with information on the identity of this black woman or the man with the purse is asked to call Lt. Michael Branning of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office at 248-2175 or Crime Stoppers at 785-TIPS.

Narcotics Search Warrant

DeFuniak Springs, FL (August 25, 2010) – Investigators with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, DeFuniak Springs Police Department, and Florida Department of Law Enforcement conducted a joint investigation involving the distribution of illegal narcotics within the Oakdale Garden Apartments located at 226 North First Street in DeFuniak Springs, FL. 

As a result of this investigation, Tuesday morning, August 24, 2010, Investigators served a search warrant at Oakdale Garden Apartments unit #B5, which led to the arrest of Cassandra Johnson. 

Johnson was placed under arrest for outstanding warrants for two counts of felony distribution of crack cocaine, one count of trafficking in hydrocodone (Lortab), and one count of owning/renting a residence with the knowledge of drug trafficking.  Johnson was also charged with possession of crack cocaine and possession of hydrocodone (Lortab) with intent to distribute stemming from items located during the search warrant.

Johnson is being held in the Walton County Jail with a $50,000 bond

Kids are back in class, and the germs are spreading. 

Dr. Timothy Nichols from Emerald Coast Urgent Care in Panama City Beach says, “One of the most common illnesses in kids we see are middle ear infections, medically known as Otitis Media.”

He says this illness is usually caused by an Upper Respiratory illness when the infection “spreads to the middle ear cavity.” 

Symptoms can include ear pain, fullness in the ear, irritability, fussiness, problems feeding or sleeping, fever and loss of hearing.  Dr. Nichols says treatment options can include antibiotics, medications for the upper respiratory symptoms (such as congestion), medications for fever, and medications for pain.  Drinking plenty of fluids and resting are also essential. 

You should always get an examination by a doctor to determine the appropriate treatment.

Two area families’ homes sustained major damage late this afternoon in two separate house fires.  The first fire occurred in Malone, Florida at 5363 15th Street.  The home occupied a single mother and seven children.  The second fire occurred at 1399 George Johnson Road in Esto, Florida.  Holmes County Red Cross volunteers are still in the field and information on the family affected by the Esto fire is not yet available.  No reported injuries in either fire.  Red Cross volunteers are now working with the families to provide temporary lodging, clothes and food.

The Central Panhandle Chapter of the American Red Cross is not a government agency and receives no government funding.  Crises assistance for local disaster victims is made possible by local donations.  If you would like to help local disaster victims, please call the Red Cross at 850-763-6587 or log on to www.redcrosscpc.org. 

Gulf World Marine Park is proud to announce the birth of a male Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin. At 7:15am on Monday August 23, 2010, Brinnon, an Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin gave birth after a 12-month gestational period.

Brinnon and her calf is presently housed with a young female Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin named Indy. Gulf World’s Veterinarian and marine mammal staff monitored the pregnancy throughout its term, via ultrasound.

The calf nurses frequently and can be seen riding in the safety of his mother’s slipstream. Dolphin calves nurse for up to two years and can begin supplementing their diets with fish as early as 6 months of age. 

Mike Garrett owns Garrett’s Automotive on 23rd street in Panama City.

He says thieves broke into and ransacked the shop until they found the keys.

It happened sometime in the night between 10 o’clock on Saturday and early Sunday morning.

Officials say the suspects used forced entry into the building, found the keys to all of the cars and drove off with them.

The thieves took the keys to every car in the lot but got away with four.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office took the case; but Panama City Police Department got involved once one of the stolen cars was involved in a hit and run accident.

Officials say about two hours after Garrett had reported the incident one of the stolen cars, a green Honda sedan, was involved in a hit and run accident at the intersection of 9th street and Massalina Drive. 

Witnesses say they saw two black males leave the scene.

Officials don’t know how many people were involved in the burglary and are asking for your help.

“We are talking about a pretty broad time period when someone could have broken in and taken the car, I could have been one person, two people, or four, we do know one have been taken, we already have one, the one involved in the hit and run, so we’re looking for the publics help to find the others,” said Ruth Corley.

The three cars that are still missing are described as a 2004 Maroon Convertible Chrysler Sebring with a tan top, a 2006 black two-door Honda accord, and a 2005 4-door silver Pontiac G6.

The men initially stole every key on the lot but dropped a few as they were leaving.

Garrett has already spent 11-hundred dollars to replace the stolen keys.

The four stolen cars were worth 33-thousand dollars.

If you have any information on this case contact the Bay County Sheriff’s Office at 747-7400.