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Volume: 6 Issue: 13 July 3, 2014 bi-weekly Edition

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Top News of the WEEK:

FREEPORT :2014 State of

the City Address Good Evening,Thank you for taking your valued time today;we are very appreciative for your interest and

attendance. Today is an exciting.Page 3

Is All That TV Killing

You? Attention, binge TV watchers: Newresearch suggests that long stretches spentglued to the tube may be more than just a

guilty pleasure -- there is more...Page 4

Walton County US 331

Corridor Design Standards

As the widening of US Highway 331 contin-ues and is completed; the County will expectto see a large increase of commercial develop-

ment along that corridor.Based on that, Walton County initiated work-

ing towards the development ....Page 6

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Hello to you. If your in the area visiting for the 4th of Julyjust remember fireworks are illegal to shoot or display, fireem off you may get a visit from our county Sheriff. Also,

please be courteous to other drivers out there, PLEASE, no texting whendriving, its too easy to re-end someone not paying attention. We see it happen too often.

YES, there will be traffic delays along Hwy.331 coming south from DeFuniak Springsthrough Freeport. Then once across the Bay along Hwy.98 going towards Destin or evento Panama City. Trust me it gets a bit cramped up along the infamous 30A over throughGreyton Beach to Seaside and on to Rosemary Beach. There is a lot more people trafficin some spots along 30A with so many on bikes.Drive safely, take your time the beach will be there whenever you are ready to get there.Remember, they too are not from here and they are not familiar with where the pedestri-

ans frequent. Im sometimes down there working a couple weeks at a time and you see somany close calls. Bicycles everywhere, scooters and golf carts, mostly are visitors justlike most of you reading this. Good times are o plenty around here.

Trust me.Trying to get there fast wont help no one, for the risk of an accident isnt

worth the time. So, please relax yourself and enjoy the view, frequent a few stores. Dontforget the small towns you drove through, they may have something special you mightnot find anywhere else. If your into that kind of stuff. We take very much pride livinghere in Walton county. Many of us are transplants from a northern state or beyond, wemoved here, thats how much we love it here. Please, throw your trash where its sup-

posed to, help us keep this as pristine as we feel it deserves at minimum.Every time I sit to write my column each edition I always think for a bit about what

topic or tale I want to tell you about. I want to welcome a few new customers and thankall of our customers are special. They help us afford to print this newspaper for you all. Isuppose that my column here I entitled The Wolfs Den has been for the most part wellaccepted, I seem to write the way I feel. They always say in news to keep yourself report-ing the news out of it, I only pipe-in, in this column. It has its way of release for me

since I seem to be filled with questions. Its not that I like exposing distrustful people orbusiness, but if the situation needs to be addressed just write in. Lets check it out!

I guess in a way we have had our hand in some wrong-doings around the county overthe years. More in our early stages, we were eager to make an impact of good qualityread and news articles. I feel like I have about a 1,000 Crime stoppers out there, the cityand county snoopers. Now as I am older now I understand the value in whistle -blowing.Look at the attention you can get to correct or expose a bad situation in hopes to make it

better. You know just like that guy Eric Snowden who exposed a lot of questionable ac-tions of the big wigs. Inside the Inside circle.

I guess as you see in our government today there is deceit, lies, untruths and more thanI have time to write about. BTWif some of the news is true, why is the videos being

pulled so not to spread the facts. FOX news has brought up many valid questions, givethem credit, listen. Look how many police across the country have been awakened by thevideo recorder. Watch online, youll see how different the demeanor changes once itsrevealed to them. With almost every cell phone able to record too, I guess if they beenrough when arresting people? Looks like somewhere, or someone is recording your ac-tions. Got something to hide? Bad news for you.

With these latest scandals and bad decisions from Obama you can see online how muchtruths they hide from the majority of the public out there. When you (government) censorwhat we see as fact. The Truth, is it even out there? The way the IRS mysteriously sayscrap about lost factual evidence of e-mails that could have been the reason they disap-

pear? All around the table its bad. Oh yea, heads would have to roll, I keep waiting for itbut from this government and president you never see anyone standing up and correcting

the wrong with solutions to the problems. Come Obama, you had 6 yrs. so far and whatis better? Anything? Really better for us common folk?

You see folks, to me it gets hard to search for good accomplishments from our government, anybranch, they are all in disarray now. Id rather see senators and congressmen box it out. Some-times a good short fist fight settles differences amongst men. Right by society? Who cares, thats

just the way it was when I grew up. How about you? In most cases large scale arguments youwitnessed as a child were settled with threat of or even violence. Families learned to handle their

business out back behind the shed. Out of sight so not to start a riot. But handle your dang busi-ness as a man.

I always appreciated people who show passion in a belief of something or even themselves thatchanges the way they live. Its from the heart.

I heard through the grapevine that there about 7 kids I heard of that are pregnant and only16,17. Hello? Lets see a raise of hands who think thats not good for a child to have a child?Maturity comes with living life. Experiences sometimes change your whole outlook on the world.It can make you or break so easily. Without a family strong support system your chances of reallymaking it, is almost out of reach.

Ive said it many times before. But parents need to be more in tune with what the child is doing.Find out about them, give them directions to help see success in the future. Our USA is growingthrough a change many of us may not be able to make it, as is. War is coming to USA as the re-leased violent prisoner Obama released with 4 other thugs. Smart move? A Marine sits in Mexico

EditorialViews expressed in The EMERALD STAR NEWS do not necessarily reflect those of the

publisher. The staff of The EMERALD STAR NEWSpride ourselves in our efforts to en-sure accuracy of the publication contents. However, there is no guarantee of the accuracy of all

the Information nor the absence of errors and omissions (especially when sent through a thirdparty); therefore, no responsibility can or will be assumed. 2500 copies printed bi-weekly.

Publisher/EditorFrank W olfe Jr(850) 585-0262

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Page 2 The EMERALD STAR NEWS Inc. Thursday, July 3, 2014

Look online: theemeraldstarnews.blogspot.com

Mail invoices and other information to:P.O. Box 1133

Freeport, Florida 32439

Quote of

the week :

The Wolfes en

I believe in rules.

Sure I do. If

there weren't any

rules, how could

you break them?

Leo Durocher

The course of truelove never did run

smooth.

WilliamShakespeare

This newspaper is your voice to the county and all city or state employees, or

whomever it may concern. Have something to say? Good or bad? Lets hear it!!Dont hesitate to make suggestions or send in your comments to us anytime onany subject. Did you ever want to be a writer? Heres your chance to be recog-nized.Send any and all inquiries to the address listed below.

We are an equal opportunity employer.

Emerald Coast Flowers GiftsNOW across from City Hall, Freeport, Florida 32439

850-835-5200 or850-267-2616Full Service Florist- Worldwide Delivery

STOP IN AT THE PRISSY HEN AND SEE WHATS NEW

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REMINDS RESIDENTS TO

"DRAIN AND COVER

TALLAHASSEE - The Florida Department of Health reminds residents andvisitors that it is important to "Drain and Cover this National Mosquito Con-trol Awareness Week. The Department encourages everyone to take simple

precautions to protect themselves and their neighbors from mosquito-borneillnesses which have received increased attention recently in Florida."A sim-

ple and easy way to prevent mosquito-borne illnesses is to follow the "Drain

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Page 3The EMERALD STAR NEWS Inc.Thursday, July 3, 2014

r -HOW??From the businesses advertising in this issue.

Thank each one as you go to their storeYes its true. The rising demand for this newspaper made our delivering needsso high, we could not keep up. We have numerous locations all throughout

Freeport, south Walton and DeFuniak Springs to pick up a copy. Interested inadvertising help? Just give us a call today!

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FREEPORT :2014 State of the City Address

Good Evening,

Thank you for taking your valued time today; we are very appreciative for your interest

and attendance

Today is an exciting day for our city. When I was elected Mayor, I said that Business as

Usual is not something that would be heard at city hall.We need to examine every city service and determine whether it should continue as is orexplore to see if there is a better way of doing things. The transition to a new form of gov-ernment, with transparency and open door policy would enable us to have the opportunityand the responsibility to take bold steps towards a better future for our citizens by im-

proving our neighborhoods, cleaning up our community, creating economic opportunity,restoring citizens confidence in city government and taking decisive and positive actions

to move our city forward.

We can implement a plan to take these bold steps because it is a plan, a statement of ourpriorities. I know you share that same respect for our citizens that I do and I am happy to

report that the state of our city is improving and our future is bright.

In the recent past, our city and our economy has faced many challenges, however, with thehelp of our citizens we have kept our economy moving by continuing to invest in our city.In the past 11 months we have been taking small steps which are making a difference- Ireceive calls daily thanking me for the difference that is seen around our community in-cluding moral improvement. We have people wanting to volunteer and become a part ofour great city. As we see progress of Highway 331 becoming a four lane, we will certainly

be able to witness more of an impact on Freeport as convenience and job opportunitiesbecome available. I am proud of the work weve done to strengthen our city governmentand the community. My sincere appreciation to all of the volunteers who have helped withthe new Heritage Center Museum which we dedicated in November of 2013. Those whohelped with the first annual Mayors Charity Ball where we were able to help those in ourcommunity who are less fortunate in providing Thanksgiving Dinners as well as meals for

Christmas along with purchasing gifts for some 56 children of those families. We haveestablished a new sewer agreement to help the citizens with existing homes to be able tohook on to the city system with financing available. We have prioritized projects for capi-tal improvements for the community so that we can apply for grants to make some ofthese projects a reality. We have tried to make the city more inviting by cleaning up cer-tain areas and if we are going to clean up our city, it must include cleaner waterways forour city as no family or business is going to move to a city with health warnings withevery body of water in the area, and I call on you as citizen to join me in cleaning up our

waterways.

Weve applied for two grants totaling $2,472,000.00 connecting our water system on cor-ridor 331 from Freeport to DeFuniak Springs, as well as, adding 50 thousand feet of water

mains in Freeport and this is sitting on the desk of Governor Scott for his signature. Wehave commenced working on our first annual City Festival Freeport Bayfest scheduledfor the third weekend in September each year and beginning September 20, 2014. Wehave also implemented a community event on the second Sunday of each month calledPickin on the Porch, which a group of musicians get together and play and sing Blue

Grass and Country and this, too, serves to bring the community together.

We have been working with the Northwest Florida League of Cities going to Tallahasseeand lobbying on behalf of the Florida League of Cities on matters which affect all citygovernments. We are also working on getting street lights to enhance Highway 20 fromthe 331 Corridor down past city hall. We have voted to keep our fire department intact andare trying to work on a means of maintaining it as is .Were working on annexation of

properties into the city which would be very beneficial to the city and we have tried toinvolve our younger generation in the area and familiarize them with the city government

by speaking to the classes, inviting them to tour city hall as well as extended invitationsfor them to go by the Heritage Museum to learn about Freeports past. I am so very proudof the work we have accomplished together to strengthen and revitalize our city. We knowthat there are many long term issues facing our citizens and our city. With the money thatwe have budgeted and/or spent, we must preserve the general fund dollars so we can con-tinue funding important job-creating neighborhoods and improving capital projects. I wantto thank all of the employees for their hard work and dedication to their job and to ourcity. Its an honor to work with such a wonderful group of professionals. I would also liketo thank the members of the city council for their hard work and their public service toFreeport. Thank you all for your patience and support during this first year in office. You

play an important and vital role in making our city a better place to live, work and play. Ilook forward to the next three years. It is only together with the help of our staff, and ourcitizens and our creator that we can make Freeport a place where neighborhoods can flour-ish. Citizens can be proud and businesses can progress. I thank you again and God Bless

our Nation and our great city of Freeport.

Russ Barley Mayor

Walton Tax Collector Office Wins Award

As reported by WZEP AM 1460

Walton County Tax CollectorRhonda Skipper and her 32member team have been se-lected by The Florida SterlingCouncil as a 2014 recipient of

the Governor's Sterling Award(GSA), the highest honor inFlorida to recognize organiza-tions for performance excel-lence. Skipper accepted the

award at the Governor's Sterling Awards Banquet.

Skipper says the team is incredibly honored by the award. She says this is some-thing they have been working towards since she took office in 2005. Skippersays it has been a long and difficult journey and they've learned much along theway. This recognition validates the hard work of our team. Skipper also saysthey have not taken the journey alone, that many people have contributed to this

recognition. Skipper says these include customers who provide feedback, for-mer team members who have retired, colleagues in tax collector offices aroundthe state, and other organizations who have allowed the team to learn fromthem. Skipper says she is very proud of the team; that each member has contrib-

uted to the recognition.

The Tax Collector's Office will have an opportunity to share this recognitionwith the community when they host a Sterling Showcase later this year. TheShowcase allows GSA recipients to share how they have worked to put the Ster-

ling Model of performance excellence in place.

For more information on The Florida Sterling Council, visit

www.floridasterling.com.

http://www.floridasterling.com/http://www.floridasterling.com/

5/23/2018 July 3, 2014 Edition

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Thursday, July 3, 2014The EMERALD STAR NEWS Inc.

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Walton County Roadside

Fundraising: Who, What,

When and Where

As we approach the holiday weekend, Walton

County officials say they understand that manygroups use these opportunities to fundraise for theirorganization, church or team. They remind groupsthat Walton has a strict policy in regards to roadside

fundraising in Walton County.

Roadside fundraising is defined as the process ofsoliciting and gathering voluntary contributions byrequesting donations from an occupant(s) in a motorvehicles, bikers, or pedestrians along the county

roadway, multi-path or other sidewalk system.

On January 14, 2014, the Walton County Board of

County Commissioners amended their Code of Or-dinances Chapter 4, Amusements and Entertain-ment, Article III - Roadside Fundraising. The finalamendments to the Ordinance were passed on May

20th, 2014.

The Ordinance does allow for roadside fundraisingwith the appropriate permits. The Ordinance is alsovery specific and limits what types of fundraisingcan be conducted, who conducts them, locations and

the times during the year that permits can be issued.

1. No permit for roadside fundraising will begranted to be held on holidays, any day prior to orimmediately following a holiday or anytime be-

tween March 1 and September 15 of any year.

2. Roadside fundraising permits will not begranted to be conducted on at the following loca-

tions:

a. County Road 30A and any intersection on

County Road 30-A

b. Scenic Gulf Drive (formerly known as OldU.S. Highway 98) and any intersection on Scenic

Gulf Drivec. U.S. Highway 98 and any intersection on U.S.

Highway 98

It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in,participate in, form or start any roadside fundraisingon any county road in Walton County without firstobtaining a duly authorized roadside fundraising

permit from Walton County Administration.

Walton County understands the importance thatfundraising provides to our local charitable organi-zations, organization, churches or teams, however

these regulations have been designed to promote thepublic health, safety, and general welfare of ourcitizens. A copy of the policy can be found athttps://library.municode.com/index.aspx?

clientId=12452.

COMMISSIONERS BILL CHAPMAN AND BILL IMFELD EARN

FAC CERTIFIED COUNTY COMMISSIONER DESIGNATION

DeFuniak Springs, FLThe Florida Association of Counties (FAC)presented Walton County Commissioners Bill Chapman, District 1 and BillImfeld, District 3 with the Certified County Commissioner (CCC) designationfollowing the Commissioners completion of a comprehensive study programdeveloped by the association. The commissioners received the designation with40 other county commissioners during an awards ceremony held at the FACAnnual Conference in Orange County, FL.

CCC certification is not a requirement to serve as a county commissioner inFlorida. However, county commissioners may voluntarily enroll in the programand complete a series of courses totaling 42 hours. The coursework is designedto provide information and enhance skills relevant to a commissioners dutiesand responsibilities as an elected official.

This certification allows our citizen electorate to become experts in countygovernment improving their communities, said FAC Executive Director ChrisHolley. The 380 graduates of this program is a testament to the importance ofthis curriculum to Floridas public servants and our counties

The CCC program coursework covers a variety of topics, such as county gov-ernment roles and responsibilities, county government structure and authority,financial management, ethics and sunshine law, negotiation skills, economicdevelopment, and effective communication. Completion of all coursework aver-ages 12 to 18 months. The University of Florida/IFAS Extension sponsors this

program.

For more information about the CCC program and courses, visit the FAC website at www.fl-counties.com.

For over 85 years, the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) has representedthe diverse interests of Floridas counties, emphasizing the importance of pro-tecting home rulethe concept that government closest to the people governs

best. The Florida Association of Counties helps counties effectively serve andrepresent Floridians by strengthening and preserving county home rule throughadvocacy, education and collaboration.

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Walton County Board of Commissionerswill hold a Workshop on Thursday, July 10,

2014 at 9:00 AM at the Walton County Court-

house located at, DeFuniak Springs, FL.

Is All That TV Killing You?

Attention, binge TV watchers: New research suggests that long stretchesspent glued to the tube may be more than just a guilty pleasure -- they

could also shorten your life.

The study of more than 13,000 seemingly healthy adults in Spain foundthat those who spent more than three hours a day watching television

had double the risk of early death compared to those who watched lessthan an hour a day.

"It is a little bit surprising," said study author Dr. Miguel Martinez-Gonzalez, a professor of preventive medicine at the University of

Navarra, in Pamplona, Spain.

Gonzalez said the study participants were highly educated, and slim and

active. Their average age was 37.

Anyone who said they had diabetes,heart disease or cancer was ex-

cluded at the start of the study.

Over the roughly eight years they were followed, there were 97 deaths --19 from heart disease,46 from cancer, and 32 due to other causes such

as accidents and liver or kidney disease.Researchers then compared the risk of death with time spent in seden-

tary activities, such as watching TV, working at a computer and driving.

No link was found between early death and driving or working at acomputer, according to the study, published online June 25 in theJour-

nal of the American Heart Association.

https://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=12452https://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=12452http://www.fl-counties.com/http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/diabetes-health-check/default.htmhttp://www.webmd.com/cancer/http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/default.htmhttp://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/default.htmhttp://www.webmd.com/cancer/http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/diabetes-health-check/default.htmhttp://www.fl-counties.com/https://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=12452https://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=12452

5/23/2018 July 3, 2014 Edition

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Russ Barley- Mayor-

Freeport

Greeting from the Mayors Office. Summer has definitely set inand the hot weather is dangerous, so please only be out when youhave to. The Freeport Fire Department has signed a new mutualaid agreement with Eglin AFB for securing the benefits and mu-tual aid in fire prevention and hazardous materials incident re-

sponse in the protection of life and property from fire, hazardousmaterials incident and in firefighting. Some of the annexationpapers have been submitted to city attorney for his view and sowe should be hearing soon which are the first properties to beannexed into the city limits. Dont forget the election is comingup on July 8thand the poles will be located at the CommunityCenter on Business Highway 331 from 7:00 am- 7:00 pm, sohave a voice in your community and vote for leadership of ourgreat city. I gave the State of the City Address on June 28th, and itwill be published on the city web page for those of you who wereunable to come and are interested in what I had to say. We are

still advertising until July 8ththe job of City Clerk, applicationsare being accepted until 5:00 PM on that date. Applications can

be downloaded on the city web page or you can pick one up inthe Mayors Office at City Hall. The website for the FreeportBayfest, is up and running and additional information will beadded as we receive it , please mark your calendars for September20th- the event will take place at the Freeport Regional SportsComplex at Hammock Bay. Mr. Al Wilson has turned in his re-tirement papers effective August 1, 2014, after being with the cityfor 25 years, we will miss him and appreciate all of the dedication

he has given to the City of Freeport and we wish him the best inhis retirement, so drop by between now and then and let himknow how much we appreciate him for all of his efforts and ser-vice. The budget process will begin in July getting the depart-ments ready for the 2015 year, and I will be giving an AnnualBudget Message once this is complete. Also remember the city

pool is open every day except Wednesday for everyones enjoy-ment, come and cool off on these hot days. For comments, sug-gestions, complaints please give me a call at 835-2822.

Page 5

The FREEPORT POST

Thursday, July 3, 2014 The Emerald Star News, Inc.

The Mayors PostRuss Barley Freeport Mayor

Please send any and all comments

to The Emerald_Star_News@hotmail.com

835-2558Walk-inS weLCome

Mon-Fri 8am-5pmCome see Michelle, Lynn & Paige

Next to LCs Pizza & Subs-FREEPORT PLAZA

The Gypsy MermaidArtisans Outlet and Boutique15890 Business Highway 331 NorthFreeport FL 32439

Delores Walvatne / Owner251-234-1234thegypsymermaid.delores@gmail.com

thegypsymermaid.net

****Opening July 7, 2014Freeport Elections

The Freeport Election iscoming up and there is onerace for registered votes. TheFreeport Municipal Electionwill be July 8, at the FreeportCommunity Center from 7am- 7pm. Registration hasalready closed. All races are

nonpartisan.

Council seat 5 is the only racewith Kasey Cuchens runningagainst sitting councilmanHarold Taunton. Council Seat3 only has one candidate,Eddie Farris. He is

unopposed.

Freeport Asking For Hydrant HelpAs reported by WZEP AM1460

At Thursday nights Freeport City Council meeting, gettingWalton County to assist with maintenance of fire hydrants in theunincorporated part of the county was discussed. Freeport has askedthe county to assist with the maintenance, but the report to the

Council is, the County had no response.

Like DeFuniak Springs, the Freeport water system has a franchisearea five miles from the city limits. Freeport has installed water andmany fire hydrants. While hydrants are not always a requirement,they help reduce property insurance and increase safety. The hy-drants require a larger line size and have a cost to install. There isalso a cost to maintain and test the hydrants. Freeport is asking

Walton County to help with the normal maintenance.

The Council was told Walton Administrator Larry Jones was askedabout the maintenance help. At the meeting, the Council was up-dated why there has not been a response. They were told Jones de-cided to not take the issue to the commissioners. The FreeportCouncil agreed to ask again, and if no response, then get on the

agenda.

According to Freeport, Walton does not document water usage orhelp with the maintenance of the hydrants outside the city limits on

the Freeport system. For fire hydrants outside the DeFuniak SpringsCity limits, in the Liberty Fire District, Liberty documents and re-

ports the water they use. These hydrants are also in the unincorpo-rated part of the county. At the minimum, the water has to be ac-counted for. If a water utility has a certain amount of unreportedwater loss, the DEP will investigate. This is the reason DeFuniak

Springs requires the fire departments to document water usage.

After years of Freeport Fire Department working response outsideits limits, Walton has now established their own fire service forthis area. This came about after adjustments in how taxes were be-ing distributed. With the county no longer funding Freeports Fire

Department, the Council is asking for assistance for the hydrants inthe countys fire district.

And the Freeport Council did receive good news from the engineer.A required utility line move for the new 331 lanes has droppedfrom nearly $80,000 to $6,000. The length of lines that need mov-

ing has been reduced after the state and city worked together.

July 4thFreeport cityswimming pool...

Hot dogs and hamburgerson the grill ....chips anddrinks

Hot dogs and hamburgers

11 am til 2 pm.

Sponsored by the Town

Planters Society ofFreeport for moreinfo eleanor17wt@cox.net

or 835-5611

3.50 burger plate

4.00 cheese burger plate

2.50 hot dog plate

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5/23/2018 July 3, 2014 Edition

6/12

My name is Zillow.I am a three-month-old little fellow.My family came tolive at Alaqua inMarch, when myMom found herselfwith eight kittens,homeless, lost, andwith nowhere togo. Alaqua gave us

a wonderful place to live and names thatall started with the letter "Z. I have

been chosen as the Pet of the Week, and

I want to share our story with you.

Come join me to hear my tale All

aboard the "Z" Kitten Express!

Our Mom was a mere kitten herself,

maybe one year old, but she proved to bea loving and devoted mom. She was theengine that drove us. She took such goodcare of each of her eight kittens, each ofus a different color and pattern of stripes.Our unique colors were similar to thevarious colors of cars on a railway train.

Eight of us, all in a row!

Alaqua provided us with a joyful kitten-hood. They provided shelter and safetyfor us and made sure we were well so-

cialized. Once we were weaned andthriving, our sweet mom was adopted bya loving home. By that time, the "Z"kittens were a force of our own, growing

and loving life.

Soon, each of my siblings were adopted.One by one, I watched them go to lovingfamilies. Now, it is just me, Zillow.Maybe they should change my name to"Caboose", as I am the last little kitten

on the "Z" Kitten Express.

Please come to Alaqua and see me. Tellthem you want to meet the only remain-ing "Z" kitten. They will let you pet andhold me, and you will see when you pickme up, that I immediately become a purr

box and a snuggle bug. Humans say thatgood things come to those that wait and Iknow my family is out there somewhere.It just may be you! If I become part ofyour family, you can keep my name as"Zillow", or you could call me"Caboose", but all I really want is for

you to call me yours!!!

Thursday, July 3, 2014The EMERALD STAR NEWS Inc.Page 6

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Walton County Economic Devel-opment Alliance (WCEDA) will hold itsmonthly board meeting on Thursday,July 10, 2014 at 12:00 PM at the WaltonArea Chamber of Commerce Confer-ence Room located at 63 South Centre

Trail, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida 32459.

Two or more County Commissionersmay attend this meeting. These meetings

are open to the public.

Pixieis theAlaqua Animal

Refuge Pet ofthe Week!

Are you lookingfor a new lovein your life? Ifso, I am the girl

of your dreams - tall, dark, and beauti-ful! But dont be fooled by my name -Pixie. I am anything but "pixie". I ama Great Dane/Lab mix, so I am not

exactly small. I have been at Alaquafor almost one year. Do you know thatis equivalent to seven years in a dog's

life?

If you think that you might have roomin your heart and your home, considertaking me out on a date. I promise todevote my life to you when we fall inlove. I will be the girl of your dreams,if you just give me a chance. I promiseyou won't regret it. Please come toAlaqua for a date with me. Did I men-

tion I would give you lots of kisses?

For more information about Pixie orany of our other adoptable animals

please visit our website,www.alaquaanimalrefuge.org/FindAPet.Alaqua Animal Refuge is a no-killanimal refuge located in NorthwestFlorida. The refuge has placed over9,000 animals of all kinds since it's

inception in 2007, and has grown tobecome a recognized leader in animal

Walton County US 331 Corridor Design Standards

As the widening of US Highway 331 continues and is completed; the County will ex-

pect to see a large increase of commercial development along that corridor.

Based on that, Walton County initiated working towards the development of the 331Corridor Design Standards that would enhance property values, increase commercial

development and advance job creation.Under no circumstance will any of the proposed standards implement imminent domain

or allow for the taking of any property from any property owner along the 331 Corri-dor. That is not the intent, has not been the intent and will never be the intent of the

WCBCC.

The intent of the proposed standards is to create a uniformed commercial corridor inwhich prospective businesses desire to locate, expand and create additional employment

opportunities in Walton County.

It has been proven locally that with prudent design development standards, propertyvalues increase at a faster rate than without the standards in place. The proposed stan-dards have not been designed to be punitive to commercial development or redevelop-

ment.As part of the development of the proposed standards, the Walton County Department

of Administration held three public workshops in which the public was invited to par-ticipate and give input and comment on the proposed guidelines and ideas for improve-

ments or changes to the proposed standards.

The meeting schedule conducted was as follows:

1. Monday, August 26th, 2013 at 5:00pm in the DeFuniak Springs Boardroom

2. Thursday, September 5th, 2013 at 5:00pm at the Freeport Community Center

3. Tuesday, October 8, 2013, 2013 at 3:00 PM at the South Walton Annex Board-

room

In addition to the three public hearings, there was a Planning Commission meeting heldon Tuesday, April 29th, 2014 at 5:00pm at the South Walton Annex Boardroom thatincluded discussion and public comment periods regarding the proposed corridor stan-

dards.

Based on the current proposed 331 Corridor Standards, the following items exist:

1. Does not implement imminent domain or the taking of any property from any

property owner.

2. Would only apply to new commercial developments and major commercial rede-velopment projects and would not affect current businesses unless they enter the major

redevelopment process.

3. Would not apply to individual residential property owners.

4. Would only apply to the first 300 from the edge of the right-of-way of US 331 ofcommercial parcels located in unincorporated Walton County between I-10 and the

north shore of the Choctawhatchee Bay.

5. Only includes a limited amount of prohibited business types from being able todevelop along the corridor, and provides conditional approval from the WCBCC for the

development of a limited number of others.

6. Uniformly implements prudent design standards that already exist in the CountysLand Development Code regarding building orientation, lighting, parking requirements,

sidewalks, access, utilities, landscaping, display of merchandise, storage and signage.

7. Does not change any land use or the entitlement of any land use types.

The proposed 331 Corridor Standards are still at the level of the Planning Commission

and will also be required to be placed before the Walton County BCC for approval. Asthe process moves forward, the public will continue to be able to participate and make

comments.

A copy of the proposed 331 Corridor Standards can be found on the Walton County

website at http://www.co.walton.fl.us/Index.aspx?NID=1073.

http://www.alaquaanimalrefuge.org/FindAPethttp://www.alaquaanimalrefuge.org/FindAPethttp://www.co.walton.fl.us/Index.aspx?NID=1073http://www.co.walton.fl.us/Index.aspx?NID=1073http://www.alaquaanimalrefuge.org/FindAPethttp://www.alaquaanimalrefuge.org/FindAPet

5/23/2018 July 3, 2014 Edition

7/12

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Thursday, July 3, 2014 The EMERALD STAR NEWS Inc. Page 7

Healthmark Health Matters

Caffeine: How much is too much?

Caffeine has its perks, but it can pose problems too. Many people relyon caffeine to wake them up and keep them going. In fact, caffeine isused by millions of people every day to increase wakefulness, alleviatefatigue, and improve concentration and focus. However, it is possible to

overuse caffeine. How much is too much?

According to researchers at Mayo Clinic, up to 400 milligrams (mg) ofcaffeine a day appears to be safe for most healthy adults. That's roughly

the amount of caffeine in four cups of brewed coffee, 10 cans of cola ortwo "energy shot" drinks. Although caffeine use may be safe for adults,it's not a good idea for children. Adolescents should be limited to no

more than 100 mg of caffeine a day.

Heavy daily caffeine use, more than 500 to 600 mg a day, may causeside effects such as insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, irritability, stom-ach upset, fast heartbeat and muscle tremors. For people who are moresensitive to caffeine than others, even a little can make them jittery. Howa person reacts to caffeine may be determined in part by how much caf-feine they are used to drinking. People who do not regularly drink caf-feine tend to be more sensitive to its negative effects. Other factors mayinclude body mass, age, medication use and health conditions such asanxiety disorders. Research also suggests that men may be more suscepti-

ble to the effects of caffeine than women.

Most adults need seven to eight hours of sleep each night, but caffeinecan interfere with this much-needed sleep. Chronically losing sleep,whether it is from work, travel, stress or too much caffeine, results insleep deprivation. Sleep loss is cumulative, and even small nightly de-

creases can add up and disturb daytime alertness and performance.

Certain medications and herbal supplements may interact with caffeine.Some of those may include antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro) andnorfloxacin (Noroxin), which are types of antibacterial medications.Theophylline (Theo-24 or Elixophyllin) is a medication that opens up

bronchial airways by relaxing the surrounding muscles. Because it tendsto have some caffeine-like effects, taking it with caffeinated beveragesmay increase the concentration of theophylline in your blood. This cancause adverse effects, such as nausea, vomiting and heart palpitations.Echinacea, an herbal supplement sometimes used to prevent colds orother infections, may increase the concentration of caffeine in the blood

and may increase caffeine's unpleasant effects.

If you are taking in too much caffeine, cut back, but do it gradually.Drink one less can of soda or drink a smaller cup of coffee or tea eachday and always avoid drinking caffeinated beverages late at night. Godecaf. Most decaffeinated beverages look and taste the same as their caf-feinated counterparts. Also, check the label. Some over-the-counter painrelievers contain caffeine, as much as 130 mg of caffeine in one dose.

Look for caffeine-free pain relievers instead.

For most adults, caffeine is a part of the daily routine and may not pose

a health problem, but talk to your physician about whether caffeine maybe affecting your medications or your general health. For more in-formation on how to kick the caffeine habit, contact Larry Rafey,

P.A., at Healthmark Clinic, (850) 951-4556.

Resurfacing project set to begin on CR 183

from south end of I-10 overpass to SR 81CW Roberts Construction, Inc will beginconstruction activities the week ofJuly 7, 2014 on a $2,172,997.34 resurfacing project on CR 183 from south end of

I-10 overpass to SR 81 in Walton County.

The 8.32 mile project includes widening, milling and resurfacing CR 183, re-grading, sodding shoulders, turnout construction and paving, new guardrail in-stallation, mailbox replacement, new signage and new thermoplastic striping withaudible/vibratory edge line. Motorists can expect alternating and intermittent lanerestrictions to begin in July 2014. The entire project is slated for completion in

March 2015.

All planned construction activities are weather dependent and may be resched-

uled in the event of inclement weather. For more information, please contact JimHarman, Walton County Project Manager at harjim@co.walton.fl.us.

Kay YountMary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant

FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION

JOIN IN THE EXCITEMENT!!!At the LakeyardTheme this year is

Celebrating 200 years of the Star Spangled Banner

After dark watch the fireworks display!

Friday, July 4, 2014, Parade 4:30 PM,Opening Ceremonies 6 PM

Entertainment following opening ceremonies

Admission is free. Parade participation is free. Sign up for cashprizes with your float entry.

mailto:harjim@co.walton.fl.usmailto:harjim@co.walton.fl.us

5/23/2018 July 3, 2014 Edition

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Page 8 The EMERALD STAR NEWS, Inc. Thursday, July 3, 2014

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Thursday, July 3, 2014 The EMERALD STAR NEWS Inc . Page 9

The 14 day Overview

Aquarius

1/202/18

Pisces

2/193/20

Aries

3/214/19

Taurus

4/205/20

Gemini

5/216/21

Cancer

6/227/22

Leo

7/238/22

Virgo

8/239/22

Libra

9/2310/22

Scorpio

10/2311/21

Sagittarius

11/2212/2

Capricorn

12/221/19

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newspaper to everyone you know!

Advertising specials going on NOW!!

Please thank those advertisers in this issue,

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Hello Editor,I want to commend you, for I looked online

and realized how long youve been making ago at it. 6yrs now! You are so upfront andyou tell it like it is, as best you know of.

My wife had to tell you how much we trulyenjoy your newspaper and Im sure well seea copy in the Freeport Museum someday.

I was able to witness some of your handywork and I must say it looks as good as the

pros. You care about the work you do andwe as customers appreciate honest work froma good honest man such as yourself.

We will always be big fans of yours.The McDowells

Dear Editor,Our business has seen an increase of calls

since we placed our Ad with you. Thats whywe enjoy contributing as long as we haveover the years. We enjoy your hard efforts to

branch some of south Walton to connectmore closely with Freeport as it grows, sowill your newspaper. Youve been more thankind with deliveries and any adjustments we

wanted. Keep up the good work!Folks at A.J. Plumbing

From the Editor,I sincerely want to thank each of you who

pick up a copy each edition we print. Theysure do get picked up by the public quickly.That shows me that what we got here willgrow again as we gather more community!

Others may be dragging around on Monday, but you're probably up to something extraordinary. Start the weekwith a bang! Around Tuesday and Wednesday, you'll need to really focus. It's important to find out what's atthe core now, so don't miss the point. You're extra brainy from Thursday through sometime Saturday, and if

you also bring your best interpersonal skills into play, well, there's very little you can't do.

Monday looks busy, so make a plan and stick to it -- and include sensible eating and exercising for energy.Around Tuesday and Wednesday, know the difference between looking thoughtfully at a situation and over-analyzing it (the latter can lead to not-very-helpful paralysis). From Thursday through sometime Saturday, life

can improve by leaps and bounds -- just balance intellect and instinct, and choose your path.

The stars have you all charged up, your battery may be a bit low. Plug in -- engage on a deeper level with acertain someone, dedicate your efforts in meaningful ways and be sure to listen to what your body is tellingyou. From Thursday through sometime Saturday, you can definitely put your renewed energy to great use,

particularly when it comes to starting new projects or even new relationships.

Be ready to build bridges and strengthen relationships on Monday. Try others' shoes on for size, and let 'emknow how they feel. Around Tuesday and Wednesday, your efforts at empathy and your emotional intelli-gence should have you sitting pretty -- whether at work or personally, relationships look sweet now. Mutual

fulfillment is a win-win situation!

Take a great idea -- at work or in your personal life -- and get it going on Monday. Then, look closely: You'll

foresee a potential issue and be able to prevent it. (It's so much better to nip it in the bud.) From Thursdaythrough sometime Saturday, you've got tremendous energy of the fun and flirtatious variety. Plan a special

date (and make the arrangements in advance!) or, if you're single, get out and strut your considerable stuff.

you're in a generous -- maybe even extravagant -- mood. Just make sure you can back up what you're saying.you're exchanging grand plans for practical ones. You've got a low-key charm that's far more alluring thanothers' overblown efforts now. Take care with balancing the different aspects of your life from Thursday

through sometime Saturday, when issues surrounding home or a partner are liable to come up.

You've got bold, beautiful energy on Monday, so think big! By Tuesday and Wednesday, on the other hand,that energy's turned inward. While others may wonder what's up with you, those mental wheels are turning inways that can produce some great stuff. You'll likely be ready to share those thoughts -- not to mention some

feelings -- from Thursday through sometime Saturday, and those who you tell about it will know they're lucky.If other people are cramping your style on Monday, placate them and keep on going as best you can. By Tuesdayand Wednesday, you should have much more freedom of movement -- and that style of yours can earn you someserious admiration. Sometime between Thursday and Saturday, it's time for a heart-to-heart. If a decision is in-

volved, you'll want to put your head together with a pertinent person

Think large scale and long term on Monday, regarding work, relationships and more. Then, on Tuesday andWednesday, zero in on some of the pertinent details -- go step-by-step. And listen up, because you may hear (ormaybe overhear) something helpful. From Thursday through sometime Saturday, the air around you crackleswith your electricity -- and when it comes to romance, something pleasantly shocking can happen now

Stay behind the scenes. Making a splash just isn't the best move now. , some arrangements you've been makingcan begin to come together in the most pleasing way. Be sure to follow up, either at work or when it comes to

personal (even romantic!) business. From Thursday through sometime Saturday, your inner depths are calling,

but you'll also want to stay attuned to the world around you. It's all about balance.

You're a great communicator on Monday, so get the word out, whether at work or on a more personal level.Around Tuesday and Wednesday, you'll be more tight-lipped -- you've got a lot on your mind now, and you maynot be ready to share your findings or feelings. Have patience with those around you, annoying though they may

be. From Thursday through sometime Saturday, their questions suddenly don't seem so pesky, and you've got

answers they'll love. Fun's in the stars, too, so pick your poison.

Be alert to potential trouble spots, and have a contingency plan. By Tuesday and Wednesday, though, things go

more smoothly, especially if you invest a little time in additional understanding. Ask a few extra questions --others will know you're really engaged, and they'll be impressed. You're particularly work- or goal-oriented fromThursday through sometime Saturday, but don't miss the interpersonal angles. Relationships of all sorts need

care and feeding, too.

5/23/2018 July 3, 2014 Edition

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Walton School District Falls

Below 3% Fund Balance

As reported by WZEP AM1460The Walton School District has fallen to a2.2% fund balance on the last fiscal day ofthe year. At a special meeting to close out

the books for the year, the Walton SchoolBoard was told the fund balance has fallen

below the 3% mark. Finance Officer MaryHobbs explained the estimate for passthrough monies to charter schools was un-derestimated and along with food service

having to be supplemented for another year, as with several otheritems, they had to transfer money from the fund balance to make the

budget equal out.

While falling below the 3% is not considered a financial emergency,it is a cause of concern. You might remember the recent teacher nego-tiations and the district not wanting to meet all the teachers requestsdue to not wanting to take the fund balance, a type of savings ac-count, below the 3% mark. This is to help insure the district maintainsa good credit rating. If the balance falls below 2%, the state can stepin and make sure the district does not go under.

The budget is required to be balanced at the end of the fiscal year.They can not be overrun in any financial function. With the moneytaken out for additional expenditures not budgeted, the fund balanceis down to $1.437 million. This would be similar to your household

budget allowing for a normal cooling bill, than we get an unusuallyhot summer and the bill is doubled. If you live paycheck to paycheckand have to work with a very tight defined budget, where would youget the money to pay the higher bill? Hopefully you have a savings or

emergency fund to pull from. The fund balance is that savings and theschool district can not let the power get cut off. During the economic

problems lately, the fund balance has been tapped each year to makeends meet.

June 30 is annually the last day of the fiscal year, the financial yearfor school districts. They are required to take in and spend the sameamount. If they spend more than the budget, the money can be takenfrom available resources through budget transfers. A school districtthen has to plan for the next budget year through the ad valorem tax

process. This includes budget workshops andhearings to come up with the budget. Thishas to be done before the normal October

first start of the budget year. The district alsohas to have money, for Walton usuallythrough a short term loan, until the propertytaxes start to come in November.

Walton Property Appraiser Patrick Pilchersays his estimate is Waltons taxable prop-erty value will go up just over 13%. Thiscan be good news in that it could mean ad-ditional dollars for the budget. Becauseschool districts are different than any othergovernment body, the capital side increase

will mean the state will raise Waltons re-quired local effort.

The Board voted three to one to approve thetransfers. Board member Mark Davis saidthey are required to balance the budget bethe end of the last day of June. Wallace wasnot present. Sharon Roberts was the nayvote. She told WZEP First News the votegave the Superintendent permission tospend past what the budget was set at. Laterwe will tell you how the school board andseveral audience members expressed disap-

pointment that the fund balance was al-lowed to get to such a low point withoutmore warning.

Page 10 The EMERALD STAR NEWS, Inc. Thursday, June 19, 2014

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and all support of this newspaper is deeply appreciated. Your makinghistory with each edition we complete. Find news, make news. Tell it.Got something to say? Let us hear it! I ll print it....Freedom of the press!

Obituary for Carole Jean Bekat

Mrs. Carole Jean Bekat, of Santa Rosa Beach,FL., age 73, passed away Monday, June 30, 2014.She was born in Lansing Michigan, to TracyMyers and Nina A. Langdon Myers on March 25,

1941.Mrs. Bekat graduated from the University ofMichigan receiving her Masters Degree in Edu-cation. She worked for the Department ofDefense for 30 years before retiring. She was adevoted wife, mother and grandmother.Mrs. Bekat was preceded in death by her parentsTracy Myers and Nina A. Langdon Myers.Mrs. Bekat is survived by her husband of 46years, Erol Bekat of Santa Rosa Beach, FL.; oneson Brian Bekat of Denver, Colorado, one daugh-ter Tulin A. Koch and husband Robert of SantaRosa Beach, FL.; one sister Kay Carlson andhusband Dale of Minnesota as well as eightgrandchildren.Private burial will be held at Gulf cemeteryYou may go online to view obituaries, offer con-dolences and sign guest book at www.clary-glenn.com. Clary-Glenn Freeport Chapel FuneralHome is entrusted with the arrangements.

Teen hid her pregnancy

from parentsA 16-year-old girl appears to have hidden her preg-nancy from her parents for nine months and given

birth without their knowledge to a baby girl who was

found buried in the family's backyard, a North Caro-lina sheriff said Tuesday.

Police found the full-term baby, who weighed 8.5pounds, buried in a subdivision in Franklin County,Sheriff Jerry Jones said Tuesday. Based on prelimi-nary information from the state medical examiner'soffice, authorities believe the baby was dead when she

was buried, he said.

They're awaiting the final report to determine thecause of death and whether the baby was alive when

she was born.

The investigation began about 7:30 p.m. Sunday whensomeone who had overheard a conversation went to

authorities, he said.

The person "overheard something like, so-and-so ishaving a baby, and she's not going to tell anyoneabout it," Jones said. "So it would be a concealedchildbirth. He didn't know if it was true or not. Hisremarks were that 'I cannot keep this. I have to tell

somebody.' "

Investigators shortly found the family involved andwent to their house, where family members were

shocked by the possibility that someone there hadgiven birth, Jones said.

As investigators looked around the house, one sawwhat appeared to be a bloody towel or shirt in theteenager's bedroom, he said. "We had some suspi-

cions, but we didn't have anything else," Jones said.

Investigators left and discussed getting a search war-rant, but the girl's father called back about 10 p.m.Sunday and said, "you need to come back to our

house. We found what you're looking for."

He led investigators to a shallow grave in the back-

yard where he had uncovered enough to see the baby'shead, Jones said.

At first, Jones was skeptical that the girl's parentswouldn't know their daughter was pregnant, he said. "Ididn't really agree with that when I first heard it," hesaid. "But the social services people said teens arevery, very clever in hiding this type of stuff. There

may be ways of concealment that I don't know about."

He encouraged others in this situation to talk with acounselor, get prenatal care and at least use NorthCarolina's safe haven laws to drop off their baby. Un-der that law, parents can give up a baby within sevendays of birth at a safe haven center, which includehospitals and police or fire departments, without being

charged with a crime.

The mother of the newborn was taken to a hospital fortreatment and was released Monday night, he said.Investigators hoped to interview her Tuesday, andthey also hoped to get the final report from the medi-

cal examiner late Tuesday, he said.

They believe the baby was born late Sunday morningor early Sunday afternoon, he said. Investigators be-

lieve the teenager buried the baby, he said.

The newborn's father, who also is a juvenile, wasaware of the pregnancy, as were some friends of hisand the baby's mother, Jones said. It's not clear if they

knew that the baby was buried, he said.

Very few people knew she was pregnant at all.

5/23/2018 July 3, 2014 Edition

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U.S. Hwy. 331 ExpansionFact and Fiction

In an effort to provide accurate information to local residentsand to clarify some misconceptions that are circulating in the community, the managementof Healthmark Regional Medical Center (HRMC) has prepared a fact report concerninghow the proposed construction of U.S. Hwy. 331 South as designed will impact the deliv-ery of health care.Fiction: If Healthmark doesnt go along with the Florida Department of Transportation(FDOT) plan, the state will not four-lane all of U.S. Hwy. 331.

Fact: FDOT has already stated that all of U.S. Hwy. 331, from U.S. 98 to Interstate 10,will be widened to four lanes.Fiction: FDOT is only putting two lanes of the highway on hospital property.Fact: FDOT is putting all four lanes, including median and turns lanes, on what is cur-rently hospital property and has refused to use the current path of U.S. Hwy. 331, despitedoing so on other sections of the road.Fiction: FDOT has offered several reasonable alternatives in an attempt to compromisewith Healthmark.Fact:None of the alternatives presented use the current path of U.S. Hwy. 331 and insteadmaintain all four lanes, including median and turns lanes, on what is today hospital prop-erty.

Fiction:FDOT must put the highway system on hospital property so that it can reduce orstraighten the curve just north of the hospital.Fact:According to local police, the slight curve to the north is not historically a danger-ous area of roadway and is notresponsible for any significant traffic problems. A muchsharper curve is located south of the hospital. Reducing that curve would move the roadaway from the hospital onto the western shoulder, which is what the hospital is asking forin a design that has already been furnished to FDOT by the hospitals engineering firm.Fiction: Using the current highway path of U.S. Hwy. 331 and redesigning two lanes tothe western side of the current highway will require a federal environmental study thatwill take 3-5 years and cost millions.Fact: An environmental study is required, but FDOT has yet to provide any factual dataregarding time and cost of the environmental study because those things will depend on

the scope of work. Since only a small section of the road in front of the hospital will needto be repositioned, the scope of the study should be minimal.

Fiction: If there is any delay in construction, the two-laned section will cause a bottle-neck.Fact: There are already two bottle-necks on U.S. Hwy. 331, both of them created byFDOT. The first is in DeFuniak Springs just south of I-10, in front of McDonaldsRestaurant, where the four lanes shrink totwo. This has been allowed to exist for years

by FDOT. The second is north of Freeport,where the newly-constructed passing lanesshrink from four lanes to two lanes, and was

just designed and constructed by FDOT.The HRMC plan does not create an addi-tional bottle-neck or impact what alreadyexists.

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Jones Drive - Possible Owner Financing - Two wooded Half AcreLots Available. Located on Paved Rd. South of Hwy 20. w/CityWater Available. $24,900 per Lot.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Bear Creek Subdivision - Bank Owned Lot on Co. Hwy 3280, andOne Lot on Hibernate Way. Swimming Pool, Paved Streets, & City

W & S available. Lot 20 $9,500 & Lot 11 $9,000.

CABIN ON BAY GROVE!Approx. 1,720 sf. 3BR/2BA Cedar Home with stone fireplace inGreat Room. Water views from all bedrooms. Open floor planwith high ceilings & natural light. Protected water, boat launch,and dock. Detached single garage. Call to see! $279,900

CHOCTAWHATCHEE BAY!

This unique 3BR/2BA Bay Cottage is the perfect place for family& friends to gather, relax & enjoy the endless water fun & fishing.Full view of the Bay from the open LR & kitchen. Large Mastersuite. Jack & Jill bath between two guest rooms. Oversized backdeck. Detached garage & storage area. Concrete sea wall, dock

& sandy beach area. OFFERED at $299,000

NEW HOME!$5,000 towards Buyers Closing Cost Paid at Closing!

On the 14th Fairway in Windswept Estates. 4BR/2.5BA, 2,651 sf.built w/high quality & designer touches! 10 & 16 ceilings. Over-sized double garage. Custom kitchen w/granite tops. Enjoy golf,tennis, & the good life at Windswept! ID#T1129369 $269,900

2 ACRES - BANK OWNEDAcross from Choctawhatchee Bay. Woodedwith mature trees. Unrestricted. Close toMarina, City Water & Sewer available.ID# T1694901 $59,900

AMAZING BAY FRONTThis .5 ac. lot has a quiet, end-of-cul-de-saclocation. Nature preserve area across the street.Unique subdivision w/restrictive covenants,trails, tennis court, boardwalk to the Bay, streetlights, & more. ID# T11821818 $159,900