31 JULY 2015

[WZEP AM 1460]

WZEP AM 1460 First News Now

Friday, July 31, 2015

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Today is the 212^th day of the year. There are 153 days left in the year.

 

On July 31, 1975, James Riddle Hoffa, one of the most influential American labor leaders of the 20th century, disappears in Detroit, Michigan, never to be heard from again. Though he is popularly believed to have been the victim of a Mafia hit, conclusive evidence was never found, and Hoffa’s death remains shrouded in mystery to this day.

 

Birthdays On This Day:

 

1816 - George Henry Thomas, Major General (Union Army)

1817 - Philip Cook Jr, Brigadier General (Confederate Army)

1883 - Fred Quimby, American film producer

1932 - Ted Cassidy, American actor (Lurch-Addams Family)

 

Need to know what events are going on? Try the WZEP AM 1460 Community calendar.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S6a6CXueaQr_TB5Nekoy0imjziz3bNneDO1JdEXSm5w/edit?usp=sharing

 

News Segment 1

A LOOK AT NEXT YEAR’S SHERIFF’S RACE

By: T.H. Merritt

A look at how next year’s race for the office of Sheriff across the region shows incumbents don’t appear to have much competition…at least so far.  Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley is unopposed at this point should he decide to continue.  Ashley is in his first full term. He was appointed to fill out the remaining term of Sheriff Charlie Morris after his indictment on federal corruption charges. Ashley has challenged the Okaloosa County Commission recently over budget issues as his department faces a growing population – and rising crime.

Holmes County Sheriff Tim Brown, of Bonifay, will see challenges by three Republican candidates. Among them, is Ben Holland, an 82 year old Korean War Veteran. Holland says the only law enforcement experience he has is being locked up in the county jail for 5 months last year after a fight with deputies in a disturbance. Sheriff Brown has not indicated whether he will seek re-election.

Geneva County, AL Sheriff Tony Helms was recently re-elected.  He has two more years on his current term.

Walton County Sheriff Michael A. Adkinson, Jr. is seeing strong public support in his second term as Sheriff. No one has stepped forward to challenge the popular Sheriff but potential candidates have until June 20^th of next year to file.

With an open door policy, Adkinson can often be seen personally handling citizen complaints. Since becoming Sheriff, Adkinson has untangled and consolidated emergency communications in the county and is overseeing the construction of a new sub-station, (which is about 65% complete) in the fast growing area of Mossy Head. That substation is should be ready around September 1^st.

The Sheriff is asking for just 3 positions that are patrol related due to the increased volume and tourism to Walton County as well as the growing population. Due to good personnel and resource management, this will be the first time in almost 10 years that additional patrol staff has been added.

The Sheriff’s has also harnassed the power of social media to engage the public and help them better understand the role of law enforcement. Public Information Officer Corey Dobridnia says after only three months on the job, she feels social media is our way of engaging the public and gaining their support and respect. It’s a great way to show off the good work our deputies do on a daily basis!

Adkinson hasn’t announced yet whether he intends to run for a third term. He needs only 418 signatures to qualify.

NATIONAL GUARDSMEN NOW ARMED

By: T.H. Merritt

Full-time Alabama National Guardsmen are now armed. Governor Robert Bentley issued the order earlier this week to Major General Perry Smith. All full-time personnel and the four National Guard recruiting centers are now covered. Details of the plan have been classified due to security considerations but, Governor Bentley assured the public members of the guard would be “armed and protected” now.

Due to a Department of Defense directive that has prohibited the carrying of firearms by military personnel on bases in the United States, local citizens have stepped up to the plate and have been providing armed security to recruiting offices across the county.

At least seven governors around the country allowed members of the National Guard to carry weapons, after a gunman killed five people at a military recruiting center and a naval support center in Chattanooga on July 16. The gunman, Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez, was killed by police.

However, On July 20, (just 4 days after the slaughter in Tennessee) a policy letter from the U.S. Army Recruiting Command instructed recruiters to avoid contact and/or conversation with armed “law-abiding” civilians who volunteer to guard recruitment centers and to report said volunteers to law enforcement “if the recruiter feels threatened.”

Department of Defense spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters on July 22nd that the Pentagon won't change its policy that forbids most servicemembers from being armed while on U.S. soil.

Florida Governor Rick Scott is also among several governors who isn’t waiting for the federal government to act.  He has ordered Florida’s Adjutant General to arm all full-time Florida National Guardsmen as well.  Lt. Justin Phillips, Public Affairs Officer of the Florida Army National Guard says the Governor’s order has been executed and full-time personnel at the National Guard armories in Crestview and Bonifay have been fully armed.

News Segment 2

E-CIGARETTE EXPLODES IN VICTIM’S MOUTH

SWFD responded to a report of a burn victim in the Miramar Beach area Wednesday afternoon. Upon arrival, crews found a male patient with significant facial trauma.

Paramedics began advanced life support measures and quickly transported him to Sacred Heart on the Emerald Coast. Further investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office discovered that the patient was smoking an e-cigarette when it exploded in his mouth.

The unidentified man was listed in critical condition yesterday and was later air transferred out of state to an advanced care facility. His condition is unknown at this time.

The Fire Department would like to remind everyone that, according to the Food and Drug Administration, e-cigarettes have not been fully studied and the types of dangers that exist are uncertain.

COUPLE ARRESTED FOR “SHAKE-N-BAKE” METH LAB

Deputies responded to a domestic disturbance call at a home on Popcorn Avenue in DeFuniak Springs Wednesday afternoon.

When deputies arrived, they observed 37-year old Crystal York, acting erratically. York told investigators Rodney Svetlik, 42, had fled the residence on foot.

York gave permission for deputies to search the premises and that’s when deputies found methamphetamine inside the home along with equipment and tools used to manufacture and distribute the drug. Marijuana was also found inside the residence.

Officers found Svetlik walking along the roadside and he was taken into custody.

Svetlik and York were arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine, manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of less than 20g of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

No charges were filed for domestic battery due to lack of evidence. However, Svetlik received an additional charge of “introduction of contraband into a correctional facility” after officers found more marijuana on him as he was booked into the county jail.

News Segment 3

MAN RESCUED FROM FIRE

Firefighters rescued a man early Thursday morning from an apartment fire in south Okaloosa.  Deputies arrived at 778 Navy Street shortly after 9 AM to find smoke and flames billowing from the windows and tried to fight the fire with fire extinguishers until fire engines arrived.

Firefighters arrived an immediately began a search of the apartment and located an unidentified unconscious male suffering from smoke inhalation. The victim was transported to the hospital and his condition is unknown.

Firefighters contained the fire to one apartment though with significant damage. A cause of the fire is under investigation by the Fire Marshal.

DEFUNIAK SPRINGS AIRPORT MAKES FLORIDA FIRST SITES LIST

By: T.H. Merritt

It’s official, the Defuniak Springs Municipal Airport has made the Florida First Sites List – a project to help bring much needed economic development to the area.  Gulf Power executive were on hand at this week’s city council meeting to brief members on progress.

The massive power company will bring to bear the resources of its marketing department to lure businesses and developers from across the nation and the world to the industrial park. The project will tout the area’s transportation, economic and critical infrastructure that companies would find attractive by promoting Defuniak Springs through print and electronic media and courting business executives at conferences and seminars.

This industrial park in Walton County is 297 acres, adjacent to the airport and contains two developable parcels that are now certified in demographic and environmental studies and ready to accept new businesses.

News Segment 4

Traffic Shift Planned for State Road 20 in Walton County

State Road 20 traffic, approximately one mile east of the Choctaw Beach Park and near the old Fort Rucker Recreation Area in Walton County, will be shifted to the south beginning Thursday, July 30. The traffic shift will be in place for approximately four weeks as crews make drainage improvements. 

The speed limit will be reduced to 35 mph in the work zone.

All planned construction activities are weather dependent and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use extra caution and obey the posted speed limit when driving through construction work zones.

HCSO TAKES 1^st PLACE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT CHALLENGE

Holmes County Times-Advertiser

The Holmes County Sheriff’s Office was among almost 300 departments represented at the annual Law Enforcement Challenge held in Orlando earlier this month and took home first place in their class.

The Law Enforcement Challenge is presented each year is funded by a grant from Florida DOT and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to reduce traffic related fatalities and injuries with agencies across the state to boost the usage of seat belts, reduce drunk driving and encourage safety initiatives.

HCSO competed and won 1^st Place in the Florida Law Enforcement Challenge category. The department will receive $15,000 in traffic safety equipment for its efforts

Obituaries - Listen in the morning, just after noon and the 4pm hour

Ronnie Ray Lambdin, Jr., 45, died Tuesday, July 28 2015. Visitation 1-2 PM, Saturday, August 1 at Clary-Glenn Funeral Home Chapel, 230 Park Avenue, Defuniak Springs, FL. Funeral 2 PM. Burial in Crowder Chapel Cemetery. Clary-Glenn Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

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

 

 

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