Thursday, June 19, 2014
WZEP AM 1460
WZEP AM 1460 First News
Thursday, June 19, 2014
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News Segment 1
Operation Avalanche
Walton Sheriff Mike Adkinson, Jr. calls the investigation fluid, ongoing, successful and possibly the largest single felony case ever worked in the county. Operation Avalanche has had 26 arrests and the Walton County Sheriff’s Office expects up to 40 total. The arrests included people in three tiers of a drug manufacturing and distribution operation with former Public Defender Lenny Platteborze one of the three on the first tier.
Continuing with the story we have been reporting on, Wednesday morning the Sheriff's office executed the second phase of Operation Avalanche, with multiple warrants at various locations in the DeFuniak Springs area. The arrests brings the total to 26, but after over a thousand man hours, Adkinson says they will likely see more.
At a press conference, Adkinson talked about the close work between his office and the State Attorney’s Office. He said the occasion is sad in that it shows how far meth and drugs reach into the lives of our community, but also says this is a happy day as they have completed the work to the point a major dent has been put into the drug trade here and in the surrounding area.
State Attorney Bill Eddins thanked the Sheriff’s Office. His office worked in obtaining wiretaps, determining if they were appropriate. He said the major meth operation has been shut down. Eddins said he found the amount of work unbelievable.
Eddins also thanked the public Defender, Bruce Miller. Eddins said Miller was kept informed and worked with his office and the sheriff’s office in the investigation. Both Eddins and the Sheriff said the investigation found that Platteborze was the only public defender office employee involved and they acknowledged the hard work of that office. They made sure to explain the charge is not against the public defender’s office, only the one employee. They said this should not tarnish the local public defender’s office. He said Platteborze had a good reputation as a public defender. Eddins does not believe any cases will have to be reviewed. An experienced attorney is being brought in to help fill the case load.
Major Joe Preston explained Operation Avalanche. He said it began in October of 2013 after they found meth operations on Jim Cotton Road. Search warrants ended with 10 arrests. Preston said eight of the ten went back to manufacturing meth as soon as they bonded out. The Sheriff’s Office continued with the investigation and developed the three tiers.
Eddins said he is amazed at the work involved with the wiretap case. He said this took a tremendous amount of resources. He commented on the professionalism of the Walton Sheriff’s Office, the way the operation was planned, and the thoughts towards safety. Major Preston said this was a major investigation for an agency their size. He said he is proud of how the operation has been handled.
Audio of the interview and pictures are on our website, http://www.wzep1460.com
News Segment 2
Two Case Results By State Attorney
William Eddins, State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit, says Michael Robert Lake, Jr. entered a plea and was sentenced for one count of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation on a child under 12 years of age by a person over 18 years of age.
In November 2013, while visiting the home of the 4 year-old child victim, the defendant committed a sex act on the child that was witnessed by a 5 year-old child. The child reported what he saw and the victim then disclosed to law enforcement what had occurred. The defendant was located several weeks later and was arrested for the offense.
Okaloosa County Circuit Judge John T. Brown sentenced Lake to 25 years mandatory minimum in the Department of Corrections. Upon his release from prison Lake will be supervised on probation for the remainder of his life and will be required to wear an electronic monitor. Lake was also designated a Sexual Predator.
Arthur Luther Horn was sentenced today by Circuit Judge Howard LaPorte to 30 years in the Department of Corrections with 25 years of that being a minimum mandatory and a $250,000.00 fine on count one of trafficking illegal drugs. On count two of trafficking illegal drugs, Judge LaPorte sentenced Horn to 30 years in the Department of Corrections with the 15 years being a minimum mandatory and a $100,000.00 fine. As for the final count of sale manufacture or deliver, Judge LaPorte sentenced the defendant to 15 years in the Department of Correction. All sentences were to run concurrent. Horn was convicted in May 2014 by a Walton County Jury of two counts of trafficking in illegal drugs and one count of possession with intent to sale, manufacture, or deliver a controlled substance.
On June 27, 2012 the Walton County Sheriff’s Office Vice/Narcotic Unit in conjunction with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement used a confidential informant to purchase various prescription pills from the Defendant at his home. The confidential informant was able to record the transaction via equipment provided by the Sheriff’s Office. Based on the confidential informant’s purchase a search warrant was issued for the Defendant’s residence.
During the execution of the search warrant, officers were able to determine that the house had been divided into two separate structures by inserting a wall. Each area was only accessible by an exterior door. During the search, hundreds of prescription narcotics were found. Some of the narcotics were located in prescription bottles of persons other than the defendant while a majority of the pills were discovered in numerous ezy-dose pill packages tucked inside a briefcase.
News Segment 3
WCSB Strategic Plan
The Walton County School Board met in the first of a series of workshops to look at the strategic plan. Walton Superintendent Carlene Anderson told the board the Strategic Plan impacts decisions the Board makes as it drives those decisions. She said the plan is only a draft.
Kay Daily began by talking about indicators, noting the plan is a five-year one with annual reviews. She said they are working with data from December of 2013, but explained the timeline will change. Daily also said all departments were involved in the development of the plan.
She talked about the district’s mission statement and vision as well as goals. The first goal is highest student achievement; then standards based curriculum and instruction; effective communication; quality efficient service; and safe and secure schools. For the last one she said they have done a lot of work lately.
The first example of indicators include Pre-K - 12 at or above grade level. The district is a 84% of VPK read. The goal is 91% and the state goal is 91%. For reading the district is at 62% with a goal of 72% and the state goal at 83%. Math is at 65% and science is at 55%.
Looking at surrounding districts in the panhandle, Daily said Walton is above the state average in reading. She said they are very proud of the 7th, 8th and 9th grade gains. For math Walton has a huge success in the 4th grade and is tops in the panhandle for 6th and 7th being very good. She said the problem is 5th grade and they are looking at curriculum and help for the only area below average. Science is ranked 10 out of 28 for 5th grade and 6 out of 30 for for 8th grade; both above the state average.
Daily did admit they need to work on writing. She said they are working on a plan to address the concerns. Walton is below the state average in 4th and 10th and just above for 8th grade. Daily also explained they are transitioning to a new way of writing as FCAT is replaced with Florida Standards FSA. She said reading and writing will be in all areas.
News Segment 4
The Arrest Report from the Walton County Department of Corrections Jail. http://jailpublic.co.walton.fl.us/default.aspx
Sports - Listen to WZEP for national and local sports. Email us your local sports stories and scores.
Lakefest is coming up on Saturday, June 21st at the DeFuniak Springs Lakeyard from 7 am-5 pm. Live entertainment, 5K Race and Fun Run, canoe/kayak/paddleboard competitions, Kid’s Fun Zone, craft and food vendors, car show, demonstrations, and more. Register for the Lakefest 5K and the Dash N’ Splash Fun Run in person on the day of the event or in advance by going to www.active.com. For more information about Lakefest, visit www.defuniakspringslakefest.com.
Join us every Saturday here on WZEP for our new Pressbox program from 10 am-11 am. Hear local and area sports, scores, schedules, interviews, and more. Don’t miss it!
Obituaries - Listen in the morning, just after noon and the 4pm hour
Mr. Thomas E. Martin, age 86, passed Tuesday, June 17. Flowers of a houseplant nature are being accepted or memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church. A time of visitation will be held Sunday afternoon from 5 until 7pm at the First united Methodist Church. Funeral services will be Monday, June 23 at 10am at the First united Methodist Church in DeFuniak Springs. Military honors will follow n the MArtin Family Plot in Magnolia Cemetery. Jerry Evans has the arrangements. Friends and family many go online to view obituaries, offer condolences and sign the guest register at http://www.jerryevansfuneralhome.com.
Mr. Jesse Ray Ingram, Jr. went home ot be with the Lord, Friday, June 13. A service of remembrance will be held Saturday, June 21, at 11am at the Mt. Pleasant AME Church of Flowersview. Interment in the Flowersview Cemetery. The remains will lie in repose in the church 2hrs before services with Cooper Funeral Home of Chipley in charge.
William Trenton McKenney, “Mac”, age 80, passed away at his home in DeFuniak Springs on Thursday, June 12. A celebration of Mac’s life will be held Friday, June 20, at Davis-Watkins Funeral Home. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.daviswatkins.com. Arrangements and services are under the direction of Davis-Watkins Funeral Home.
Mrs. Catherine Olivia Scanlan, age 75, passed away Monday, June 16. Memorial services will be held 10:00 AM, Saturday, June 21, 2014 at St. Margaret’s Catholic Church. Memorialization will be by Cremation. Floral arrangements are being accepted. You may go online to view obituaries, offer condolences and sign guest book at www.clary-glenn.com. Clary-Glenn Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.
Mrs. Shirley Ann Andrews, age 73, passed away Monday, June 16. Visitation services will be held 9:00~10:00 AM, Monday, June 23, at First Baptist Church of Liberty located at 6775 US Hwy 331 North in DeFuniak Springs, Florida 33433. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM, Monday, June 23, at First Baptist Church of Liberty. Burial will follow at 1:15 PM Barrancas National Cemetery. Floral arrangements are being accepted. You may go online to view obituaries, offer condolences and sign guest book at www.clary-glenn.com. Clary-Glenn Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.
Karen Kolenberg, 67, beloved mother, grandmother, and dear friend to many, passed away peacefully on May 23, in Destin. A memorial celebration will be held June 27, at around 5:30pm at Ed Walline Park followed by a gathering of family and friends at Karen’s house in Freeport. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Karen Kolenberg Scholarship Fund. Cultural Arts Alliance, Attn: Lee, 105 Hogtown Bayou Lane, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459. Clary-Glenn Freeport Chapel Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cBqotV0MFzjcmLZXOcmLCibIZvvIkd5SAXr52oP0Aps/edit
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