Wednesday, November 14, 2012

[WZEP AM 1460]

WZEP AM 1460 First News

Wednesday November 14, 2012

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News Segment 1

DFS Meeting

With the mayor out, the DeFuniak Springs City Council held their meeting on Tuesday due to the holiday. The first to speak were a couple that wants to use the parking lot area of the community center to have an elephant come for a wedding. The pachyderm is said to be trained and has permits.

Dan Smith with the Walton County Habitat for Humanity asked the Council to donate a lot on Burdick and give a year to build a house. He said they have enough money to build and have a building permit ready to go. The build should happen in the spring and be done by the end of June.

The Council approved a fee waiver for the Chautauqua Building so the Walton Education Foundation can hold a Take Stock In Children event. This will be the Christmas celebration. Faye Leddon said they would like to give the kids a Christmas party. The event is being held at the Chautauqua Hall to make it extra special for the children.

James Ash, with Christmas Reflections, asked to use $3500 of reserves to help with additional needs this year. The Walton HIgh Chorus will hold a fundraiser at 331 and 90. The Council will provide a Christmas luncheon for the employees. The city will get a new police vehicle and have it converted to compressed natural gas. The Council approved a variance request for DeFuniak Hotel on HIghway 90 west for a porch and setbacks.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield did not raise rates and as Council member Mac Work made the motion to approve renewing the insurance he also made a motion to make a local company, Simerly-Airs, the agent of record. This was met with questions by the current agent of record, Kevin Locht with Corporate Benefits. Work said he has been trying to make the change since he was elected. Locht asked if they were going to give the job to another agent who has done no work on it. The motion passed.

City Finance Director John McQue’s last day will be this Friday. The city will again search for a Finance Director. The Council also found out Jayne Swift with CH2MHILL will be leaving to accept a position heading up a large expansion project in Crestview. Jason Dominic from Prichard Alabama will replace her as project manager. DeFuniak Springs was Swift’s first job as project manager.

News Segment 2

Mrs. Wilkerson Retires

Long time educator Mildred Wilkerson, who has retired from teaching, now is retiring from public service as a school board member. The Board and Superintendent Anderson both said they will miss her and her continued discipline of Board member Mark Davis. A reception and recognition was held Tuesday morning.

During the Walton School Board meeting, Jerry Christopher Jones, son of former school board member Jerry Jones and Walton commissioner Cecilia Jones, presented Mrs. Wilkerson with a plaque. He said she not only taught science, but taught about life. Jones said Wilkerson taught hard work, doing your best and making something of yourself. She was Christopher’s eighth grade science teacher at Walton Middle School. Mrs. Wilkerson said Chris was one of five valedictorians and she is proud of all five boys. He said you did not want a spanking from her.

The audience had staff and a number of principals. Board member Sharon Roberts thanked Mrs. Wilkerson for all her years serving the children and district. She also noted the retirement of Mrs. Russell, from Maude Saunders Elementary.

Board member Faye Leddon told Mrs. Wilkerson she enjoyed working with her, that she is a good mentor and kept Mark Davis strait. Wilkerson sat next to Davis at Board meetings and often corrected him when he got too excited with his language. Dennis Wallace told Wilkerson it was a real pleasure getting to know her. He said she has been a good listener and provided a lot of years of wisdom.

Superintendent Carlene Anderson told Mrs. Wilkerson they have been concerned about her leaving because she has been an anchor. Anderson said Mrs. Wilkerson and her go back 37 years to Anderson’s first job at Walton Middle School. She said Mrs. Wilkerson mentored here and mothered her and still does. She values her friendship and considers her family. Anderson said her daughter had Mrs. Wilkerson and says she was a strict teacher. She feels it is because of her strictness and her expectation of her students to behave and pay attention that she learned more than in any other class. Especially important since Anderson also taught her daughter.

Mrs. Wilkerson tells WZEP First News she feels good about the retirement. She says she is glad to not have to be available to everyone and be able to do what she wants.

The Walton School Board will meet on the 20th for a reorganization meeting, followed by an executive meeting and a special call meeting. The swearing in will take place at the Courthouse at 8:45 am.

Pictures on our website: http://www.wzep1460.com under the News.

News Segment 3

WC BCC Meeting

As the Walton Commissioner meeting started, Retiring Chairman Scott Brannon was given a plaque with a gavel in recognition of his time leading the Board. Brannon, Larry Jones and Cecilia Jones were all given a gift with their dates of service. Sara Comander said it contained a clock to help them remember the time they served the people of Walton County and a compass to remember where they go.

Pat Kellogg donated property for use as a nature preserve and education use by the public. The county is moving forward with updating the property with enhancements. Commissioners renewed the agreement with the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance. Part of the agreement has the CBA testing the water quality of the rare coastal dune lakes. Commissioners also approved the bid for the Scenic Gulf Drive western boardwalk handrail retrofit. The county will collect on the letter of credit for Windsor Estates sidewalk surety. Commissioners agreed to hire a records management consultant and approved a CSX railroad agreement for the Mossy Head Industrial Park. Professional Products has purchased an old building and wants to upgrade it by about $1.2 million. They are asking Walton County for an economic development ad valorem tax exemption. They will create at least 15 new jobs.

The search for a new County Administrator continues and the new Board should have a choice soon. The commissioners will narrow down the field of 48 applicants to five by the end of December and should be able to select a new County Administrator at the first meeting of January.

The commissioners agreed to use $86, 603 from the Solid Waste fund to hire someone to work as a special projects coordinator for economic development. Commissioners will hold two more executive sessions. A lien was released for lot 6 at Eagles Landing. Walton County works with Regional Utilities as a non-profit corporation. The county holds property and the commissioners were asked to lease the property back to the utility to meet bond requirements.

TDC Director Dawn Moliterno asked for direction on options for the health and safety deficiencies for the TDC Building. Lord & Sons came in lowest of the two bids. Moliterno said there are two other issues that have come up, that were not addressed in the initial assessment. One is additional lighting for those working at night and the other is for a leaking roof that lets water into electronic components. Other issues are mold, fire safety and ADA. They will also be able to get 12 additional parking spots. Moliterno said this will address the health and safety concerns to allow them to continue to operate out of the building. Even if they move, they would have to do the upgrades. Commissioners will rebuild a walkover at Grayton Beach that will elevate it above the dune line and a restroom remodel at the Miramar Beach Regional Access.

News Segment 4

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.
More online at our website

Join us on Wednesday for the Jimbo Fisher Show right here on WZEP from 6-7 pm. We’ll talk FSU football with Coach Jimbo Fisher.

In Girls High School Basketball

Thursday, November 15
Walton at Ponce de Leon 5:30 pm
Paxton at Freeport 5:30 and 7 pm
South Walton at 5:30 and 6:45 pm

Friday, November 16
South Walton at Fort Walton Beach 3:30 and 5 pm
Walton hosts Paxton 5:30 pm

In High School Football
The Freeport Bulldogs are heading to Graceville on Friday, November 16th for the Class 1A Playoff Game. Go Bulldogs! Holmes County hosts Blountstown in the same bracket. Both games are at 7:30 pm. Great Job Guys!

The Town of Ponce de Leon is hosting a turkey shoot on Friday, November 16th at 6 pm at the ball fields behind Wayne's Grocery. Shots are $3. 410, 12G, 16G and 20G shells will be provided. NO scopes allowed. All ages are welcome. Proceeds will go to the Old Gym Renovation Fund. Questions: Contact Sheena Hougland 836-4152.

The FSU Seminoles will be at Maryland on Saturday, November 17th. Pre-game at 9 am. Kick-off at 11 am. The early game means an early Country Store starting around 8:15 am. I hope you’ll join us Saturday morning!

Northwest Florida State College is hosting a Baseball Camp on November 19 and 20 on the College’s Niceville campus. Expert coaching staff and players from the NWF State Baseball Team will serve as camp instructors, teaching participants about the fundamentals of baseball in an educational and entertaining setting.  The camp is open to boys ages 7 to 14 and the fee is $90. Campers may enroll in person at any NWFSC area campus or center for course #XRL 6024; Ref# 84628. The registration form is also available on the Raider Athletics website at www.nwfraiders.org.

Obituaries - Listen in the morning, just after noon and the 4pm hour
Also online at our website

Betty Williams, age 70, of DeFuniak Springs. 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.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cBqotV0MFzjcmLZXOcmLCibIZvvIkd5SAXr52oP0Aps/edit

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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