20 JULY 2015
WZEP AM 1460
WZEP AM 1460 First News
Monday, July 20, 2015
Brought to you by
Member Owned CHELCO
Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative
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
TWO DEAD IN SEPARATE WEEKEND CRASHES
By: T.H. Merritt
A single vehicle crash Saturday night on State Road 293 near N. Lakeshore Drive leaves a 51 year-old Fort Walton Beach resident dead and a 38 year-old Destin resident in critical condition at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola.
State Troopers say a 1998 Ford Explorer was southbound on SR 293 shortly after 8 PM when the driver failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle ran off the road and overturned ejecting both occupants. Their names have not been released at this time and the accident remains under investigation.
A second crash late Sunday morning involving a motorcycle killed 67 year-old Michaelis L. Johnson of the Laurel Hill community. According to troopers, Johnson was travelling westbound on Red Rock Road in Santa Rosa County Sunday morning when he failed to negotiate a curve, struck an embankment and was thrown from the motorcycle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
News Segment 2
GAS LEAK SPARKS EVACUATION
By T.H. Merritt
Shoppers at The Market Shops at Sandestin in Miramar Beach got some excitement Sunday afternoon when a gas leak forced the evacuation of the popular shopping destination for locals and tourists. South Walton Fire units and the Walton County Sheriff’s Office responded in force. However, according to fire officials, the evacuation was more of a precaution than anything else. Fire officials ventilated the area, shut off the gas lines and notified the gas company. The Market Shops re-opened a short time later and things were back to normal in just over an hour.
WALTON AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
PRESIDENT RESIGNS
By: T.H. Merritt
The Walton Area Chamber of Commerce is looking for a new President. Kellie Jo Kilberg notified the Board of Directors Friday of her resignation effective August 13th.
President Ed Evans said the Executive Committee will appoint a selection committee to search for a new Chamber president. This might include an interim executive to serve the Chamber until a replacement is hired. Meanwhile Kilberg assured the Board she will work with the Board and Chamber members to work out a smooth transition.
Kilberg’s departure comes after a brief 3-year term. She cites a desire to pursue her long-term goals and objectives as her reason for resigning.
Evans says the Chamber staff will continue with business as usual and expressed his appreciation for Kilberg’s hard work and contributions.
News Segment 3
WALTON COMMISSIONERS TO CONSIDER
REMOVAL OF CONFEDERATE FLAG
By: T.H. Merritt
It’s hot. And, it’s not just the weather. As counties and municipalities across the south capitulate to pressure to remove the Confederate Flag from public monuments, buildings and war memorials, the temperature on both sides remain as heated as 1861.
Last Tuesday, Commissioners heard pleas from Attorney Daniel Uhlfelder and supporters demanding they remove the flag immediately from the War Memorial at the county courthouse. Uhlfelder presented 1,300 signatures as evidence that there is support for such a move.
However, supporters of the flag were just as vocal and filled the South Walton governmental chamber to present their side as well. Freeport resident Danny Glidewell presented 500 signatures from one community alone demonstrating support for keeping the flag in place and reminding commissioners that it won’t stop there. “Next, it will be The Ten Commandments and Christmas display,” Glidewell said. The City of Crestview removed the flag last week.
Commissioners were in no mood to be rushed and rebuked repeated cries to remove the flag immediately. In order to give residents in other areas of the county time to comment, Commissioners delayed a decision until their next meeting Tuesday, July 28th at the Walton County Courthouse in Defuniak Springs.
If you want to be heard on whether the Confederate Flag should be removed from the War Memorial at the Courthouse, Commissioners will hear from the public as they take up the issue at 9 AM, Tuesday, July 28th at the Walton County Courthouse Board Room, 571 Nelson Avenue, in Defuniak Springs.
WZEP First News Now will be there…to cover the fireworks
.
SUSPECT CAPTURED IN FWB SLAYING
A Fort Walton Beach man was arrested Sunday in connection with one of several recent slayings that had sparked concern over escalating community violence.
Samuel Lee Parms, 21, is charged with murder in the death of Keyontray Henry, 23, who was shot outside a home in FWB July 14.
Parms was taken into custody about 12:46 a.m. Sunday at his home on Earl Street in Fort Walton Beach. The U.S. Marshal's Fugitive Task Force, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office assisted Fort Walton Beach police in the arrest.
Henry was found lying in front of 23 Maples Street on July 14. He had a gunshot wound through his left arm and abdomen area. He was flown to Baptist Medical Center in Pensacola, where he was pronounced dead.
On July 14, a phone call from the Okaloosa County Jail was intercepted. During the call, associates of Parms and Henry gave detailed accounts of the shooting, corroborating earlier witness statements.
The shooting was the third homicide in Fort Walton Beach this year. There were no homicides in the city last year.
HOT WEATHER CONTINUES
By: T.H. Merritt
The extremely hot weather this past week has had heat indices above the 100 mark for several days. This week’s forecast is calling for continued temperatures in the 90s with high humidity levels.
During extremely hot and humid weather, your body's ability to cool itself is challenged. When the body heats too rapidly to cool itself properly, or when too much fluid or salt is lost through dehydration or sweating, body temperature rises and you or someone you care about may experience a heat-related illness. It is important to know the symptoms of excessive heat exposure and the appropriate responses.
Slow down: reduce, eliminate or reschedule strenuous activities until the coolest time of the day. Children, seniors and anyone with health problems should stay in the coolest available place, not necessarily indoors.
Dress for summer. Wear lightweight, loose lifting, light-colored clothing to reflect heat and sunlight.
Eat light, cool, easy-to-digest foods such as fruit or salads.
Drink plenty of water (not very cold), non-alcoholic and decaffeinated fluids, even if you don't feel thirsty.
Use air conditioners or spend time in air-conditioned locations or use portable electric fans to exhaust hot air from rooms or draw in cooler air.
Minimize direct exposure to the sun. Sunburn reduces your body's ability to dissipate heat.
Take a cool bath or shower.
Check on older, sick, or frail people who may need help responding to the heat. Each year, dozens of children and untold numbers of pets left in parked vehicles die from hyperthermia. Keep your children, disabled adults, and pets safe during tumultuous heat waves.
Stay tuned to WZEP AM1460 for the latest heat advisories and your complete forecasts.
News Segment 4
WILD, WILD WALTON WRAPS UP PERFORMANCE
By: T.H. Merritt
Grit & Grace, Incorporated, a non-profit community based theatre group, wrapped up their annual performance Sunday afternoon with WILD, WILD WALTON – a play written by Ronnie McBrayer, author of the book WILD, WILD WALTON. This year’s production was directed by Brandon Elkins as he made his debut from the director’s chair.
Local resident and cast member Cate Campbell held the audience spellbound with her portrayal of “Granny” in a moving scene portraying what life was like shortly after the turn of the century in Walton County.
This year’s production included an all local cast including Sheriff’s Deputies, business owners and WZEPs own Wes Richardson who demonstrated he CAN sing.
If you’d like to support Grit & Grace in their efforts to preserve the history of Walton County through storytelling, music and dance based on the stories and legends of Walton County, check out their website at www.gritangrace.org
Obituaries - Listen in the morning, just after noon and the 4pm hour
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cBqotV0MFzjcmLZXOcmLCibIZvvIkd5SAXr52oP0Aps/edit
Copyright by Kyzer Communications DBA WZEP AM 1460: Permission for use of WZEP News and Information granted by written request. Blanket permission is pre-granted to the following: DFS Herald-Breeze, NWF Daily News, WTVY, WJHG, WMBB, FNN, CBS, Foster Folly News, Walton Outdoors, Florala News, Holmes County Times-Advertiser, Chipley Bugle, 30-A.com, SoWal.com and government agencies. Note To Other Media: If any of these are the basis or computers for a story you write or develop, contact WZEP News at 892-3158 to request written permission and indicate “as reported on WZEP AM 1460.”
Newsletter Subscribe or Unsubscribe
If you would like to be added to or removed from our newsletter mail list, please go to our website and use the Google Groups submission box. You do not have to have a Google Groups account to get the newsletter. You may also simply email from the account you wish to receive the newsletter at by letting us know at wz...@wzep1460.com or by sending an email to wzep-su...@googlegroups.com wzep-uns...@googlegroups.com
Contact WZEP AM 1460
Visit our website for more at http://www.wzep1460.com
Located: 449, N. 12th Street, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433
Mail: PO Box 627, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435
Station: 850-892-3158 wz...@wzep1460.com Fax: 850-892-9675
Sales: 850-892-5130 sa...@wzep1460.com Sales Cell 850-333-1853
News: T.H. MERRITT, News Director Cell 850-333-6877