WZEP AM 1460 First News Saturday 07-25-09
WZEP AM 1460
First Swine Flu Case In Walton
According to Gail Allen, Walton County Health Department Administrator, the first confirmed case of H1N1 influenza in a Walton County resident has been reported. The patient’s family believes the 17-year-old was exposed during travel outside of Florida earlier this month.
The Health Department says the patient has been self-isolated at home since returning to Walton County and has recuperated well. Citizens are encouraged to observe standard precautions against the spread of illness, such as frequent and thorough hand washing, coughing or sneezing into a tissue or clothing sleeve, and remaining home when sick.
Horse Death Follow-up
Yesterday we told you of a horse found dead in the Pleasant Ridge Community southwest of DeFuniak Springs. The older Arabian gilding horse and a sheltie dog were found dead and the horse had part of the flank eaten.
The official statement from the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission is the case remains unknown if a bear actually ate the horse or if a bear or large cat attacked the horse. The FCW also says it does not know if the horse was attacked or if it died of natural causes and then was eaten.
The owner of the horse talked to WZEP First News and said they checked on the horse before going to bed and then found it dead the next morning. She says they have other animals and are used to having to deal with problems from wildlife. She also says the FWC biologist who came to investigate suggested the horse might have been eaten by a bear. She says they suspect the bear came in look of food, possibly smelling the sweet feed and then could have attacked the horse.
The FWC also says the horse could have been eaten on by vultures or coyotes. The horse’s owner says the horse was alive when they went to bed about 11pm and dead the next morning and feels vultures only eat during the day. The FWC says there have been other bear attacks, but nothing as large as a horse has been confirmed.
Last year a resident in Mossy Head reported a horse she owned was found dead and felt it was possibly a bear or other large animal attack.
Boyd Says Walton To Get Money For Miramar
A story in the Walton Sun says U.S. Congressman Allen Boyd (D-North Florida) has announced that Walton County will receive a federal grant in the amount of $4,184,538.40 to finance ongoing repair projects at Miramar Beach. This funding will reimburse Walton County for the construction of a new, reinforced public parking facility, as well as finance demolition projects, storm water piping, and dune erosion control projects in the area.
The paper reports Congressman Boyd calls the federal funding “great news for Walton County." Boyd says the public facilities at Miramar Beach were hit particularly hard by Hurricane Dennis, and these federal funds will assist with the repair costs and help the community to better prepare for future storms.
The Miramar Regional Beach Access was damaged by Hurricane Dennis in 2005 and was recently reopened on May 18, 2009.
This grant was made available, in part, by the Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program provides grants to states and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration.
Listen to the Mp3 file for Today's News Segment 2 http://www.wzep1460.com/Saturday%20Segment%202.mp3
Freeport Meeting
As the Freeport Council meeting started, Elizabeth Brannon was sworn in as a council member, filling the seat vacated by long time member Jean Arrant. Brannon won over Greg Free in the recent election. Later in the meeting, council member Earl King, had to fill his Planning Board seat, previously held by Brannon, and chose Greg Free.
At the meeting, Walton Sheriff Mike Adkinson, Jr. attended and took time to tell the council the commitment to the community will continue. Adkinson said the sheriff office and Freeport would continue with the close relationship.
City planner Latilda Henninger told the council they should see a new shopping center development being brought before them at the August 27th meeting. This should have plans for a new grocery store.
Freeport Fire Chief Ben Greenslait asked to hire one full time and two part time personnel to bring the department back to full staffing. Jasper Carter was selected as the full timer. The chief said Freeport responded to 83 calls in June. He told the council they are currently 48 calls ahead of last year and over half are outside the city limits. He also said they have good volunteer participation.
The new Freeport park did not win a Florida League of Cities award, but will be featured as a best practice and appear in an upcoming publication. Monday starts the 3 on 3 basketball and the 4 on 4 flag football for adults.
The engineer reports well number 7 is still behind. He told the council the electrical is the problem and the contractor has asked for more time, but he has turned down the request. The new treatment plant as problems and engineer Charles Peters said they will find the problem and fix it, telling the council they will get it done.
And the Freeport Council set the millage at 3.93 mills, the same as it has been for many of the past years. The mayor noted the tax values are down and by keeping the millage the same they are actually expecting less to come in. There will be a public hearing on the budget September 8th before the regular meeting. This will be for the TRIM. A budget workshop will be held at 7pm on Thursday August 6th.
Hear local sports at 6:50 am, 7:20 am and 12:20 pm and FRN sports at 7:50am & 3:45 pm.
The DeFuniak Springs Junior League All-Stars will hold a fundraiser car wash on Saturday, July 25th, from 8am-1pm in the parking lot at Advance Auto Parts on the corner of Highway 331 South and Highway 90. The team is raising funds for their trip to the Little League State Tournament in Bonita Springs next week. You can donate by calling 892-7475 or 259-7757. Show your support!
The Walton County Athletic League will hold sign-ups for youth football and cheerleading on Saturday, July 25th, from 9am-1pm at Harbeson Field. The program has four divisions: baby boomers (ages 5-6), peewees (ages 7-8), juniors (ages 9-10), and seniors (ages 11-12). The registration fee is $50 per child. Please bring a birth certificate copy and wallet-size color picture to the sign-up. The first practice of the season will be Monday, August 3rd.
The DeFuniak Springs Red Sox and Ponce de Leon Tigers baseball teams will hold tryouts Saturday and Sunday, July 25th and 26th, and Saturday and Sunday, August 1st and 2nd. Tryouts will take place beginning at 4pm each day at the Wee Care Park. Call 401-4452 or 218-0134 for more information. The teams are currently on a break and will start the second half of their season the second weekend in August.
The Annual May Day Committee is sponsoring a youth football camp and a youth cheerleading camp. Both will be held Saturday, August 1st, from 9am-1pm at the Wee Care Park. Check-in begins at 8am that morning. The camps are for ages 5-12 with a cost of $20 per child. The registration deadline for the events is Wednesday, July 29th, at 5pm. To sign up or find out more information, call 368-5455 or 333-3871 or e-mail annualmayd...@hotmail.com.
For printable brackets, scores, schedules, and more from the 2009 Little League District, Sectional, and State Tournaments, go to www.eteamz.com/fld1.
The Freeport Regional Sports Complex’s two new leagues, youth co-ed softball and youth 4 vs. 4 flag football, play games Monday and Tuesday nights at 6pm through July 29th. Go to www.freeportsportscomplex.com to find out more.
On Saturdays at 6:45 & 7:45 am, 12:15 & 4:06 pm.
And on Sundays at 6:45 am, 1:06 & 4:06 pm.