Tim
Padgett’s Unit Returns To Afghanistan and Asks For
Supplies
How
do you honor a hero? How do you help a bunch of heroes? If they are soldiers,
then care packages will help show how much you care. If you send the supplies in
honor of a fallen comrade, you help remember a sacrifice
made.
Sgt.
Tim Padgett’s family says he had a smile that entered the room before him and he
loved life. That life ended just over a year ago when Padgett was killed in the
line of duty while serving with Special Forces in Afghanistan. Padgett was on a
recon mission when he was hit in his right arm’s main artery. Being a medic,
he controlled the bleeding, but started bleeding elsewhere.
Padgett
was born here, graduated in 1997 from Walton High School, had been a fireman and
paramedic. He went to the fire academy in Ocala. Padgett served in the National
Guard and changed over to eventually be chosen for Special Ops and was a Green
Beret, and a medic for his unit. He has one daughter, 8-year-old Summer Lynn.
Sgt.
Padgett’s team with the Green Berets 7th group at Fort Bragg is on
their way back to Afghanistan. They are asking for those wishing to help to
donate items for care packages. Items can include things like bandages, socks,
baby wipes, sun block, batteries, lip balm, and personal care
items. You can also send shelf stable foods like dry mixes, sports
drink mix, small
packages of raisins or other dried fruit, packaged cookies and
crackers,
hard candy and gum. Global calling cards are another item. You should not send
anything that will easily be damaged, liquids that can spill or leak or anything
that will melt or spoil.
Items
can be dropped off here at WZEP AM 1460 at the end of north 12th
Street or at the EMS station in Freeport.
For
pickup or for more information, contact John Lawson at 978-0725 or email jlawson@swfd.org. You may also contact
Padgett’s mother at 892-2057 or email newglenda@co.walton.fl.us.
Not the Proverbial “Cat in a Tree”
Firefighters have always been associated with getting cats out of trees; it presents the classic Norman Rockwell scene. Thursday morning, when a local resident called the SWFD Communications Center asking for help for her small kitten, SWFD firefighters were poised to respond. Yet this was not the usual cat in a tree call. The caller stated she found a kitten stuck in a hand held pump up sprayer and asked if she could come by the fire station for assistance. The Dispatcher gave her directions to SWFD Headquarters and notified the on-duty crew of the unusual circumstances.
Minutes later, the resident arrived with the small kitten that had its head stuck in the neck of the sprayer. Firefighters say the kitten did not appear to be in distress, but could not be coaxed to back his head out. The Firefighters decided to use their skills and training to remove the sprayer from the kitten. After approximately ten minutes the kitten was freed from the sprayer uninjured.
The resident stated that a stray cat had given birth just a week ago and believed that this was one of the new kittens.
SWFD Promotions
The South Walton Fire District has honored two team members promoted from the rank of Firefighter/Paramedic to Sergeant/ Paramedic with an official “Commissioning Ceremony”.
Fire Chief Rick Talbert extended a warm welcome and congratulations to Sergeants Kevin VanValkenburgh and Brian Bingham. Both sergeant’s successfully competed against 11 other eligible candidates for the positions and just recently completed their six month probationary period.
Before a crowd of their peers, chief officers and family members, Fire Chief Rick Talbert lead the new Sergeants through their oath and formally commissioned them as officers with the SWFD.
FCAT Writes Scores In
According to the 2008 Florida
Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) Writing+ results released Thursday, a
greater percentage of Florida students are writing at or above grade level. The
percent of students in grades 4, 8 and 10 scoring at or above Achievement Level
3 on the Writing+ exam increased over the previous year. In addition, the
majority of Florida’s fourth-, eighth- and 10th-graders continue to score 3.5
and above on the essay portion of the exam.
How well are some of the local students writing? Here is a look at Walton and Holmes as compaired to the state average. When looking at the Grade 4 Writing+ mean combined mean score, Holmes is listed at 3.5, Walton is listed at 3.8 and the state average is 3.8. For the Grade 8 students, Holmes is listed at 4.2 and Walton is at 4.2 with a state average of 4.2. Next is the Grade 10 scores. Holmes is at 3.9, Walton is at 4.0 and the state average is 3.9. Holmes appears to be on line with the state average and Walton is slightly above.
Beginning at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, May 13, parents may view their students’ scores via the FCAT Parent Network (www.fcatparentnetwork.com) using the secure login and password provided by their school.
To view the 2008 FCAT Writing+ fact sheet, visit http://www.fldoe.org/news/2008/2008_05_08/2008FCATWritingFactSheet.pdf. To view school, district and state FCAT reports, visit http://fcat.fldoe.org/fwinfopg.asp.
Softball teams,
sponsors, vendors, and volunteers are needed for an upcoming May Day Festival on
Saturday, May 17th. Call Marcus at 368-5455 or Willie at
305-6601 for more information. All fees are due by Saturday, May
10th.
The “Fore Women” Golf
Tournament is coming up Monday, May 19th, at the Santa Rosa
Golf and Beach Club. There will be a shotgun start at Noon. Proceeds from the
event benefit the Athena International Award Program for the Northwest Florida
Gulf Coast.
The Northwest Florida Daily News 29th Annual Marvin DeBolt Junior Golf Classic will be held Wednesday, July 9th, and Thursday, July 10th, at the Fort Walton Beach Golf Club. All proceeds will benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast. The cost is $80 for ages 12-18 and $60 for youth ages 8-11. Youth ages 12 and up will be playing 18 holes each day. The 8-11 division will be playing 9 holes each day. If you need any information or would like to register, call 862-1616.
Hear local sports at 6:50 am, 7:20 am and 12:20 pm and FRN sports at 7:50am & 3:45 pm.
On Saturdays at 6:45 & 7:45 am, 12:15 & 4:06 pm.
And on Sundays at 6:45 am, 1:06 & 4:06 pm.
Please feel free to forward and use WZEP AM 1460 First News, but always include a mention of WZEP AM 1460 First News as the source.