18 JULY 2015
WZEP AM 1460
WZEP AM 1460 First News
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Brought to you by
Dr. Chuck Stevenson
Optometric Physician
Need to know what events are going on? Try the WZEP AM 1460 Community calendar.
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WZEP WELCOMES T.H. MERRITT TO OUR NEWS DEPARTMENT
With more than 30 years of news and radio experience, he recently retired from active duty where he served as a Mass Communication Specialist writing, producing and broadcasting for the Department of Defense Media Activity. He has covered multiple military operations around the world and was on scene during the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips from the hands of Somali Pirates in the Indian Ocean in 2009.
He has narrated numerous films, commercials and served as emcee for formal ceremonies and beauty pageants. Chances are, you have heard his voice over the years for brand names like Purina, Lowenbrau, Ford and others. His voice was in high demand on the west coast. However, he and his wife and daughter chose to retire in Defuniak Springs from San Diego, California.
T.H. has also worked in television as a host, news anchor and spokesperson. However, radio is where his heart is. He says he has a “face for radio.” We think the rugged look goes well with his powerful voice. A former military police officer, he has a background in law enforcement and dignitary protection and has protected numerous celebrities, VIPs and Presidents. A native of the Deep South, he has traveled the world visiting or living in 32 different countries.
He is active in his church where he serves as a Subdeacon and his interests include history, competitive shooting, ancient languages, and Biblical archaeology. He speaks some Russian, Serbian and Spanish. He is married to his middle-school sweetheart, Teri. They have three daughters and three grandchildren…and one on the way.
News Segment 1
OPP COPS SHOT GUNMAN
A police shooting in the town of Opp, Alabama Thursday leaves one man in critical condition and two officers on administrative leave. Police say officers responded to an accident on U.S. Hwy 84 West between the communities of Babbie and Sanford around 2:30 Thursday when witnesses say one driver fled the scene on foot. Officers caught up with the man a short distance away.
Opp, Alabama Police Chief Michael McDonald said as the officers approached the man, identified as 29 year-old Pierre Gabriel Koellner of Opp, he pulled a handgun from his pocket and began firing at the officers as he charged them. Both officers, an Opp, AL Policeman and a Covington County Deputy Sheriff, returned fire. Neither of the two officers involved sustained injury and both have been placed on administrative leave as standard procedure in officer involved shootings.
The suspect was airlifted to Andalusia Regional Hospital and later transferred to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola where he remains listed in critical condition. The Alabama Bureau of Investigation is investigating.
News Segment 2
NEW DISPATCHERS
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office has five new dispatchers. The trainees recently completed more than 260 hours of intensive classroom and on the job training in the WCSO Public Safety Telecommunicator program.
The new PSTs are now eligible to take the State of Florida Exam for certification. PSTs, or, Dispatchers, as they are more commonly called, are a crucial part of any public safety organization.
MOOOOOVE OVER
Wild Walton looked more like the Wild West Thursday as deputies responded to an “outbreak” on Kid Road. Several cows had wandered into local residents yards and were roaming freely. Deputies rounded up the bovines as strays. If you are missing any livestock in the area of Kid Road, contact the WCSO with a description or brand of the animals.
News Segment 3
SOUTH FL MAN NABBED IN OKALOOSA MORTGAGE FRAUD CASE
A joint investigation between the FBI and Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office ended Thursday in the arrest of RICARDO MARTINEZ in Coral Gables, Florida.
MARTINEZ was charged with multiple felony counts which included a scheme to defraud, mortgage fraud, and unlawful promises to provide insider-information. MARTINEZ was employed in South Florida as an asset manager for a large financial holdings corporation.
Investigators learned that MARTINEZ tried to extort a local business person to send money in the form of “kickbacks” to MARTINEZ personally from the sale of the corporation’s real estate properties in Okaloosa County.
During an undercover “sting” operation, Investigators sent funds requested by MARTINEZ to his private address in South Florida. MARTINEZ accepted the funds personally and he made efforts to conceal the money from all official real estate closing documents. Further, MARTINEZ promised to provide other financial benefits to a local individual in exchange for the same “kick-back” agreement in the future. The joint effort was successful due to ongoing partnerships between local and Federal authorities targeting fraudulent acts affecting the citizens of Okaloosa County.
FREE FIRE ALARM INSTALLATION
The Liberty Fire District and the American Red Cross are planning an "Open House" and "Public Safety" Day on Saturday, July 25th from 9 AM to 2 PM.
Residents can sign-up for FREE Fire Alarm installation by the local fire departments. We will showcase our Liberty South Station, located at 3278 US Hwy 90 West (Across from the County Maintenance Yard and Woodyard Road as cross-street).
The Liberty Fire Department has teamed-up with Argyle Fire District and DeFuniak Springs Fire District for Fire Alarm installations in their areas also. Argyle Fire Dept is located at 67 Fire Department Ave.
DeFuniak Springs Fire Dept is located at 58 West Burdick Ave.
Liberty Fire District and Red Cross Volunteers will also be canvassing some of our areas of the District door-to-door as part of our Fire Prevention efforts.
News Segment 4
WALTON COUNTY ROAD WORK
State Road 20 traffic from Cowford Road to County Road 3280 at Dismal Creek in Walton County will encounter alternating lane closures Monday, July 20 through Friday, July 24 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. as crews install guardrail. Drivers are reminded to use caution and to obey the posted speed limit when traveling through the work zone. All planned activities are weather dependent and may be re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather.
TEAMWORK BRINGS HIM HOME
A 12 year old Siberian Husky named “Chevy” went missing from east Defuniak Springs a week ago and owner, David Henry, was frantic. After searching the area and canvassing neighborhoods, Chevy was nowhere to be found.
Fearing the dog was stolen, Henry filed a report with the Sheriff’s Office. On Thursday, an unidentified passing motorist found the dog along Hwy. 90 and took him home. WZEP broadcast the description during our Country Store program and the listener realized the dog she found was the missing pet. A quick call to WZEP connected the owner and listener and David Henry got his “Chevy” back.
Henry is grateful to the unidentified hero and is grateful to have his beloved pet home. A quick trip to the Sheriff’s Office to cancel the report earned “Chevy” an honorary badge from Sheriff Michael Adkisson for his courage and bravery during his ordeal.
THE POWER OF RADIO.
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Mail: PO Box 627, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435
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News: T.H. Merritt, News Director Cell 850-333-6877