WZEP AM 1460 First News Wednesday 09-14-11
WZEP AM 1460
WZEP AM 1460 First News
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
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News Segment 0
Truck Overturn Follow-up
As reported live from the scene by WZEP, Monday the DeFuniak Springs Police responded to an overturned trailer in the area of I-10. The overturned trailer was found by responding officers on the westbound on-ramp with approximately 39,000 pounds of scraped metal spilled on the shoulder of the roadway.
Further investigation by DeFuniak Springs Police revealed that the driver of the Semi-trailer had entered into the west bound on-ramp and began to negotiate the left angle curve approaching I-10. The trailer overturned, spilling all of the scrap metal that was being transported. The Semi stayed upright, allowing the driver to escape without any injuries. The semi-trailer was towed from scene and crews responded to remove the scrap metal from the roadway and shoulder area to prevent dangers to other motorist.
Holmes Fire
Firefighters from both Holmes and Walton County were dispatched to a structure fire on Will Carroll Road off 183A in Holmes County. The call came in just after 7pm and crews were dispatched with mutual aid from Walton. The fire was a grease fire and was quickly extinguished.
News Segment 1
WCBCC Meeting
Walton Fire-Rescue Chief Bryan Coley presented bids for a car fire simulator. Fireblast was awarded the bid due to being able to answer questions about safety and providing references. The simulator is being paid by a grant. Commissioner Comander also noted the help of the fire crews in clearing trees and taking care of damage during Tropical Storm Lee. She says this helped the county road crews.
Commissioners approved purchasing a used bucket truck from CHELCO, approved a remediation bid for South Side, and approved advertising for a public hearing for the planned widening of 331 south of Woodlawn. The county will use matching funds to apply for a grant for the 331 widening. The eight Gulf Coast Counties are working with federal legislators to have 80% of the BP monies coming to affected counties. Commissioners approved a joint resolution. Based on a request from senator Bill Nelson, Walton has come up with a list of people to work on a group to consider projects for the money. Commissioners also agreed to advertise for a hearing on an ordinance pertaining to developer agreements. This is intended for projects needing to raise funds such as institutional. A public hearing was conducted to adopt a draft ordinance undoing any local ordinances or resolutions, honoring the state’s resolution to take control of firearm and ammunition regulations. Local governments can no longer enact laws that will restrict the use of firearms beyond what the state has.
TDC Director Dawn Moliterno gave an update on the TDC strategic plan and the building needs. The TDC is asking the Forestry Service for land on the south side of Highway 98 to move their building. The expected cost is $4.5 million. The current building has room and traffic issues. Moliterno says money is available. She also talked about Federal Shoreline Protection and Spring 2011 Product Definition Study. Moliterno said a sports feasibility study has been completed and they found an inside facility should not be built.
She ended her time with an update the Visit South Walton, Find Your Perfect Beach brand. Clerk of Courts Martha Ingle said she received word that Walton County had the only clerk’s office that achieved 100% on performance measures by the state.
Under the land issues, commissioners approved a public firing range to be placed at the old dog facility, just past the chicken plant site on Highway 90 east. The commissioners were told the Bullet and Bones Sportsman Club will be the only public firing range in Walton County.
Daughette Docks wants to develop a 26 slip boat dock in the Daughette canal. Several property owners spoke against the proposal, saying they were opposed due to the noise, a commercial activity in the quite area, additional fumes and pollution as well as the maintenance. Commissioners were told the residents are required to pay for the canal maintenance through an MSBU and fear additional boats would cause erosion and additional maintenance, increasing their costs. One resident said it is unfair that each lot be charged for the MSBU and has one boat slip, while the one lot would have 26 boat slips and only pay for one. The item was tabled to allow time for staff to determine if the MSBU could be per slip instead of per lot. The development also has a commercial aspect.
Commissioners approved the State Law Enforcement Radio System towers for Peach Creek and Gaskin. This is the new SLERS radio system and the towers are part of the overall system to get full county coverage.
News Segment 2
Walton First Budget Hearing
The Walton Commissioners held a Budget Hearing Monday afternoon, the first of two required. The hearing was quick, less than five minutes and there were no public comments.
The Commissioners approved the same millage rate as last year, 3.5563 mills with the North Walton Mosquito Control at 0.4912 mills. The total budget is at $93,556,522, including $645,105 for the North Walton Mosquito Control.
Since the July 11th workshop, staff has been able to cut another $699,341 out of the budget. Finance Director Bill Imfeld says most of this was due to the early retirement offers. Supervisor of Elections Bobby Beasley needed more money for additional postage, the commissioners put in funds for the Freeport pool and the Sheriff has more funds for crime prevention. Imfeld says, even with these additions to the budget, they were still able to cut almost $700,000.
The rollback rate is what it would take to essentially bring in the same amount as last year. Since the overall property values are down slightly, by keeping the millage rate at the same level, the county will actually bring in less than last year. This means Walton technically has a tax decrease. Imfeld says the tax is 5.13% less than the rollback rate.
The final budget hearing will be on the 26th at 5:01pm, at the courthouse in DeFuniak Springs.
WCSB Special Meeting
The Walton County School Board met in a special meeting to approve some purchases, mainly for food services and the Mossy Head School Activity Building and the financial report and final budget amendments for the fiscal year that ended in June 30, 2011.
A public hearing was held for the current school year budget. The new budget is $95,145,000, down from almost $112 million last year. The millage rate is 5.011 mills, down 6.2%. The new budget does contain money for a new 6th grade center at Walton Middle School.
Eight student expulsions were considered and approved by the Board. The students are eligible and several already enrolled at Walton Academy. Some are at the WISE Center. One is enrolled at Florida Virtual School.
News Segment 3
Looking for the arrest report? http://jailpublic.co.walton.fl.us
This is the new jail search page. Use the drop down calendar to find dates.
Sports - Listen to WZEP for national and local sports. Email us your local sports stories and scores.
Join us here on WZEP on Wednesday for the Jimbo Fisher Show. From 6-7 pm we’ll hear from FSU Coach Jimbo Fisher about how the season is going and how he’s going to approach this weekend’s game.
The FSU Seminoles will battle #1 Okalahoma on Saturday, September 17th. Pre-game starts at 5 pm. Kick-off at 7 pm. Join us right here on WZEP. Go Noles!
Boys and Girls Club Rockathon starts Friday evening at 7 pm and will go until Saturday at 1 pm. Come by and help send 8 teens to a Teen Leadership conference in Ft. Lauderdale by making a pledge or a donation. WZEP will be onsite on Saturday morning. Come on by and check out the teen center and all the activities throughout the event. The teens at the Boys and Girls Club challenge you to a game of Volleyball!!!
Obituaries - Listen in the morning, just after noon and the 4pm hour.
Mr. Donald Freeman, age 68, of Freeport, passed away September 12. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, September 16, at Clary-Glenn Freeport Chapel Funeral Home; with Reverend Jim Vail officiating. You may go online to view obituaries, offer condolences and sign guest book at www.clary-glenn.com. Clary-Glenn Freeport Chapel Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.
NOTE TO OTHER MEDIA: If any of these are the basis or imputers for a story you write or develop, please credit WZEP AM 1460 professionally by indicating "as reported on WZEP AM 1460."
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