This is a WZEP Editorial. I’m Art
Dees.
DeFuniak Springs has a real
dilemma. Voters want to elect a
city clerk. It is an important
job. We may even think we elected a
good one but getting minutes timely has been a really big challenge. City Clerk Susie Campbell-Work has
submitted her resignation so a new election is mandated by the city
charter. I hope only qualified
candidates will apply. I would,
however, much rather see this become a staff
position if we can’t get the job done right though the election
process.
I hope candidates take the position
seriously. Can you spend the
time? Are your note-taking and
computer skills adequate for writing minutes? Will you be committed to the job? I really believe the time has come to
make this a staff position.
Consider the candidates and consider the option of staff for the election
on April 13, 2010. I believe you
can affect changes in staff much faster and much easier than an elected
position. Let’s get this resolved
and on track.
The DeFuniak Springs City Clerk is not
the Finance Director, which is a staff position responsible to the City Manager
and to the City Council. This is also not the same position as Clerk of Courts
for Walton County.
Plane Passenger Identified
The First Judicial Circuit Medical Examiner’s Office in Fort Walton Beach used dental records to identify the passenger in last Saturday’s fatal plane crash. The deceased is 52-year-old Margaret “Peggy” Shook Zeiger of Birmingham, Alabama. Her husband, 60-year-old Dr. Herman Evan Zeiger, was also killed in the tragedy.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) along with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are conducting a joint investigation into the cause of the crash.
DFS Man Arrested For Baker Pharmacy Robbery
The Crestview News Bulletin says 40-year-old Gary Dewayne Garrett, of DeFuniak Springs, was arrested by the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office almost three years after a break-in at the Health Smart Pharmacy in Baker.
According to a Sheriff’s Office report, in the store's security video, the suspect appeared to be crawling from the floor in the storage area into the pharmacy area with the T-shirt pulled over his head and his face showing. Garrett's aunt positively identified her nephew in the security tape.
Scam
Law enforcement reports another scam to be on the lookout for. This time the criminals are using your phone. The recorded call states that your debit card has been breached or deactivated and if you wish to keep your card active press "1"; enter your account number, PIN, and expiration date.
Local Youth Receives Nation Service Recognition
Ryan Ealum, 17, of DeFuniak Springs has been honored for his exemplary volunteer service with a President’s Volunteer Service Award. The award, which recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country, was presented by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program on behalf of President Obama.
Ryan participated in the Spirit of Community program this year as a representative of Walton High School in DeFuniak Springs, where he is a member of the Class of 2010.
Ryan earned his award by his volunteer service with the Walton County Special Olympics Program. He has been involved with the program since 2006 and began serving as a volunteer soccer coach in March of 2009. Currently, he has completed over 475 hours of service to his school and community.
Gillis Douglass, coach of Walton County Special Olympics, says the play, enthusiasm, and friendship he shows to the Special Olympians is outstanding. He also says Ealum’s encouragement of others contributes to the athletes playing up to their potential. Douglass says he also shows a trait, humbleness, something he says is a rare character trait in any day and age.
Sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program recognized young people across America for outstanding community service activities.
Burglaries Solved
Walton County Sheriff’s Investigators have solved two residential burglaries in the DeFuniak Springs area with the arrest of a man and his girlfriend. Last week, residences on Franck Drive and Dawn Street in the Kings Lake area were burglarized. In each instance, January Devuono of Rembrandt Circle in DeFuniak Springs was developed as a suspect.
Later in the week, a 2009 Hyundai Accent being driven by the 26-year-old woman was stopped by a K-9 Deputy on U.S. 90 outside of Mossy Head. Twenty-year-old Kevin Edward Harper who lists the same address as Devuono was in the front passenger’s seat. A search of the vehicle revealed a cardboard box in the back seat containing jewelry from both burglaries. There was also a Nike backpack in the trunk, which contained gold coins, electronics, and other stolen items. A stolen 9mm handgun was also found.
Through the course of the investigation, Walton County Sheriff’s Personnel traveled to Florala, Alabama where additional items were discovered lying in a wooded area adjacent to a rural road. Some of it came from last week’s home break-ins, but the sheriff’s office says it’s unclear who owns a number of other jewelry items. The Walton County Sheriff’s Office is working with several law enforcement agencies in Southeast, Alabama.
Harper was booked into the Walton County Jail on a 10-thousand dollar bond on four felony charges: Burglary of an Unoccupied Dwelling Unarmed, Burglary of a Dwelling Armed, and two-counts of Grand Theft. Devuono faces a felony charge of Accessory after the Fact, and her bond is five-thousand dollars. She also has an outstanding warrant from Okaloosa County.
WZEP News Segment 3
In
High School Baseball
Thursday,
March 11
Ponce de
Leon hosts South Walton 6 pm
In
High School Softball
Thursday,
March 11
South Walton
hosts Bozeman at 4 and 6 pm
Support Children in
Crisis by playing in the 4th annual Children’s Neighborhood Charity
Golf Tournament Friday, March 12th at the Fort Walton Beach Golf
Club. Check in and lunch is at 11:00 with a noon shotgun start. Cost is $75 per person. There will be
prizes and awards. All proceeds go
to benefit The CIC Children’s Neighborhood. Come join in, have a day of fun with
Children in Crisis, a part of your local community. For more information or to
register call 850-864-4242 or visit www.childrenincrisisfl.org.
The 3rd Annual Dance Camp
and Legends Basketball Game is at the Walton High School Gym on Saturday, March
13. The Dance Camp is hosted by former Indiana Pacer Cheerleaders and starts at
9 am. The camp is free and open to all ages; includes lunch and photo
opportunities with the cheerleaders. The legends Basketball game starts at 6:30
pm. Proceeds benefit the Visions of Future Scholarship given by the BMcW
Foundation. For more information, contact Heather Marshall at 850-585-9189 or
Sharon Hogans at 850-974-5925.
The DFS Woman's Club and
Pizza Hut are sponsoring the Third Annual Chautauqua 5KRun/Fun Walk Saturday
March 13, 2010. Registration time is 7 a.m., start time is 8 a.m. The
registration fee is $20 on the day of the race. You can request a registration
form via email at: dfswomansclub@gmail.com or you can call Chris Guzowski at
892-5615.
The DeFuniak Springs
Little League Parade and Season Opening is Saturday, March 20th.
The Parade starts at 8 am. Opening ceremonies are at 9 am.
Battle of the Badges! At the Boys and Girls Club Teen Center in DFS. It’s the Walton County Sheriff’s Office against the Walton County Correctional Officers. Friday, March 26th at 5:30 pm. The winning team will play the teen center team. $2 admission at the door. $5 entry for shooting competitions. Concessions will be available on site. Proceeds benefit the Boys and Girls Club of the Emerald Coast. Please contact Camile Cox at ccox@waltonso.org or 951-4949 with any questions.
James Charles Walker, Sr., age 73, of DeFuniak Springs, Florida passed away Thursday, March 4, at North Okaloosa Medical Center. Arrangements are under the direction of Davis-Watkins Funeral Home and Crematory.