30 JULY 2015
WZEP AM 1460
WZEP AM 1460 First News
Thursday, July 30, 2015
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WALTON AREA
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Today is the 211th day of the year. There are 154 days left in the year.
On this day in 1956, two years after pushing to have the phrase “under God” inserted into the pledge of allegiance, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs a law officially declaring “In God We Trust” to be the nation’s official motto. The law, P.L. 84-140, also mandated that the phrase be printed on all American paper currency.
ON THIS DAY IN:
1780 Isaac Shelby takes Fort Thicketty, South Carolina
1863 Chief Pocatello signs peace treaty
1965 Johnson signs Medicare into law
1999 Blair Witch Project released
2003 Last classic VW Beetle rolls off the line
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
HIDDEN FIREARM BY CONVICTED FELON DISCOVERED BY DEPUTIES
During the execution of a search warrant Wednesday morning Walton County Sheriff’s deputies discovered a .44 caliber Smith and Wesson handgun hidden in a suspect’s residence -- in an air vent.
Benny Furman Harvard, 43, was arrested following a search warrant at his home on Shakespeare Court in Mossy Head for being a felon in possession of a firearm following an investigation into disputes in the neighborhood where Harvard had been seen carrying a handgun.
Investigators also found a finished product of methamphetamine and instruments to administer the drug.
Harvard and Christina Beth Garrett, 24, are charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Harvard is a confirmed felon with seven felony convictions in the State of Florida.
COMMISSIONER SARA COMMANDER CLEARED
By: T.H. Merritt, WZEP News
Chief Judge Casey M. Rodgers of the U.S. District Court has dismissed - with prejudice - a lawsuit against District 4 Walton County Commissioner Sara Comander by three Sandestin residents, who contend their rights were violated in a property dispute case dating back to 2007.
The suit made several allegations against the Commissioner including denial of due process and violation of their First Amendment rights.
In a lengthy response, Judge Casey found no facts to show that the plaintiff’s speech was threatened or restricted by Commissioner Commander or that she in any way chilled or prevented the plaintiff’s speech rights. The Court also agreed with the County that requiring an answer to a Seventh Amended Complaint would amount to an invitation for a shotgun answer, which in turn would result in wasted resources on unfocused discovery and likely further discovery disputes in this already prolonged case.
Accordingly, the Defendant, Sara Comander’s Motion to Dismiss, was GRANTED with prejudice. When a lawsuit is dismissed with prejudice, the court is saying that it has made a final determination on the merits of the case, and that the plaintiff is therefore forbidden from filing another lawsuit based on the same grounds.
News Segment 2
LAW ENFORECEMENT CONDUCT “UNDERAGE BUY” OPERATION
Walton County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco performed an underage buy operation for the sale of alcohol to minors at several businesses in the county from 7:30pm to 10pm on July 22nd.
Two separate purchases of beer and wine were made from the Wine World store at Water Color and the Tom Thumb Store #80 on County Highway 30A in Santa Rosa Beach. Eilene McGarey and Brian McGough were both given a Notice to Appear as a result of the operation.
The Sheriff’s office says the majority of stores were in compliance of the law. Officials say they want to make sure as we get closer to the beginning of the school year that the proper steps are taken to ensure alcohol does not end up in the hands of minors.
ALLEY CLOSURES
Beginning immediately, The City of Defuniak Springs Water Dept. and a contractor for the City will be intermittently closing the alleys south of US 90 between 5th Street to 10th Street. Also the west side of 8th Street parking areas will be closed from US 90 to the alley. All of these closings will be short time frames and we anticipate completion by Friday afternoon, July 31, weather permitting. Contact the City Public Works department at 892-8534 if you have concerns.
NAVARRE MAN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH OKALOOSA SHOOTING
A Navarre man has been arrested in connection with a shooting in West Okaloosa County Tuesday that seriously injured a Fort Walton Beach man. 28-year old Dustin Cooper of 6627 Water Street is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Investigators say Cooper shot 26-year old James Mills following a physical altercation at the home of Mill’s ex-girlfriend at 813 Hilltop Road. The woman told deputies Mills came into the trailer uninvited and attacked Cooper after finding him hiding in a bedroom closet. As Mills was leaving after the fight, Cooper fired a shot at him, hitting Mills in his motorcycle helmet and lower left portion of his face. Mills was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola for treatment.
Cooper was located when he sought treatment for his fight related injuries at a hospital in Santa Rosa County.
Investigators say additional charges are pending in connection with the case.
News Segment 3
MISSING CHILD FOUND
Walton County Sheriffs Deputies and the public came together late Tuesday afternoon to quickly locate a missing 9 year old girl. The girl, vacationing with her family, walked away from where the family had set up on the beach. The girl was located on the beach almost two miles from her original location. The child was fine and reunited with her family
CRESTVIEW TO RESTORE CONFEDERATE FLAG
By: T.H. Merritt, WZEP News
The Crestview City Council voted Monday night to restore its Confederate Flag to the William “Bill” Lundy Memorial after Mayor David Cadel had it removed July 9th…without the approval of the City Council.
The Mayor said a family member contacted him about moving the flag to private property and thought the family member spoke for the entire family.
City Clerk Elizabeth Roy said the Mayor acted on his own but the flag was returned to the Lundy memorial Tuesday. Roy says the City Council will decide the issue at a special meeting on August 6th.
Bill Lundy was Florida’s last surviving Confederate soldier and the memorial was built in 1958.
News Segment 4
FLAG SWAP
By: T.H. Merritt, WZEP News
Walton County Public Information Director Louis Svehla says the Flag of the Army of Northern Virginia, commonly referred to as the Confederate Battle Flag, was replaced Wednesday afternoon at the Confederate War Memorial Monument on the county courthouse lawn.
The change was approved by the unanimous decision of County Commissioners on Tuesday as a compromise after a heated debate. Some residents have sought the removal of the flag altogether. The latest effort was led by Santa Rosa Beach lawyer Daniel Uhlfelder. He had previously tried unsuccessfully to have the flag removed in 2002. Uhlfelder was not present for Tuesday’s decision as he had a previously scheduled business trip. However, his wife, Michelle Uhlfelder said in a written e-mail, “"Diet Coke and Coke are still the same thing: a Coke product,"
It was County Commissioner Sara Comander who proposed the compromise. "I want to honor all of those who came before us, but I also want to be cognizant of those that the present flag seems to offend,” Commander said. "The soil of Walton County has been enriched with the blood and sweat of the people who came before every one of us, some who fought and died in the War Between the States,” she added.
District 1 Commissioner Bill Chapman and District 3 Commissioner Bill Imfeld wanted to remove the flag and send it to a museum or “other place of honor.” However, District 5 Commissioner Cindy Meadows’ emotional appeal on the benefits of a compromise persuaded Chapman and Imfeld to support Commissioner Comander’s motion.
Commissioner Chapman said if his vote cost him an election, so be it. He did what he thought was right.
HOLMES COUNTY SHERIFF’S RACE HEATS UP
By: T.H. Merritt, WZEP News
Holmes County Sheriff Tim Brown will have some competition for his job next year. Bonifay resident Ben Holland has pre-filled to run for Sheriff. He’s 82.
Holland says he has no law enforcement experience except once being a resident of the Holmes County Jail for 5 months. Holland was arrested and charged with three felonies for battery on a law enforcement officer after he fought with deputies last year during a disturbance. The charges were dismissed after the judge found him mentally unfit to stand trial. He was ordered to undergo mental health evaluations.
Holland is a Korean War veteran and is now retired. He said he stayed drunk for 40 years after the Korean War and says he would make a lousy Sheriff but he wants to earn the money to help the community. He now helps mentor teenage boys to keep them from making the mistakes he made. Holland said, “I want to keep boys out of jail, instead of putting them in jail.”
That’s a start.
Obituaries - Listen in the morning, just after noon and the 4pm hour
Frank "Fred" Ammons died July 26, 2015. Visitation 6:00~8:00 PM, Wednesday, July 29, 2015 at Clary-Glenn Funeral Home Chapel; 230 Park Avenue, Defuniak Springs, Florida. Funeral services will be held 10:00 AM, Thursday at Clary-Glenn Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in the New Ponce De Leon Cemetery, with Military Honors. www.clary-glenn.com. Clary-Glenn Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.
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