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By Mike GriffithBeacon Correspondent
In a meeting held Jan. 22,the Valparaiso CityCommission approved a landuse and zoning change fromresidential to commercial for alot on Okaloosa Avenue.
The commission also gavefinal approval to a new date forthe city’s postponed municipalelection, and approved a plan tocommit $125,000 to improve-ments in the city’s sewer sys-tem, in hopes of obtaining astate grant of $700,000 to help
fund the improvements.The zoning and land-use
change approved changes thezoning at 306 Okaloosa Ave.from R1A (residential) to C1(commercial). The change wasrequested by the Tom Thumbstore located along John SimsParkway near OkaloosaAvenue. The store owner plansto add a deli to the current gasstation and convenience store,and to build an expanded park-ing lot on the adjacent propertyat 306 Okaloosa Ave., which it
By Angela Yuriko SmithBeacon Staff Writer
Lightning struck a barn inHolt early Jan. 19, causing asmoldering fire that suffocatednine horses before destroying thestructure, according to CynthiaBowers, whose daughter Maggie,13, lost her horse in the fire.
“It was pretty devastating,”said Cynthia Bowers, ofBluewater Bay. “All the horses[in the barn] were killed. Theyoungest was about 3 days old.”
Maggie has been competing inequestrian events for five yearsand is the youngest competitor atReichert Performance Horses, thestable that boarded the competi-tion horses. Maggie had receivedthe horse, Elvis, a quarter horse,in November.
“I started riding because acouple of my friends were,” saidMaggie. “My first horse wasnamed Sox.”
The stable is owned by AngieReichert,who trainshorses andriders forcompetition.
“We hada horribletragedy,"statedReichert. "Athunder-storm hit,and myshow barn took a lightning strike(at) the middle top rafter and thebarn burned to the ground.”
Maggie herself is learning to
cope with her loss. A funeral forher horse was held Saturday. Atthat time, neither she nor any ofthe other horse owners had riddensince the tragedy. On Sunday,when she did get back on a horse,it was an emotional event.
“She rode for 10 to 15 min-utes, and she cried," saidMaggie's mother "It was a thera-py ride. It was the first ride foranyone in the barn.”
While the death of her horsehas distressed Maggie, it hasn’tupset her plans to continue com-peting. An eighth grader atRuckel Middle School, sheintends to attend Georgia StateUniversity on an equestrianscholarship.
“I still love horses,” saidMaggie.
TThhee BBaayy BBeeaaccoonn50¢Wednesday, January 29, 2014
[email protected] The voice of Niceville, Bluewater Bay and Valparaiso since 1992 (850) 678-1080
10 Pages, 2 Sections, 2 Inserts
Please see CLOSES, page A-3
Please see EXPANSION, page A-5
Police Blotter, page A-4
Fri., 7 p.m.
The All CountyBands, musicians fromvarious local highschool and middleschool bands, will per-form in a free concertat the MainstageTheater, Mattie KellyArts Center, Niceville.
Sat., 7:30 a.m.
There will be a birdwalk at the OkaloosaCounty Landfill andFort Walton sprayfields. Meet at Coachand Four Restaurant,1313 Lewis TurnerBlvd., Fort WaltonBeach. 305-359-5334.
Sat., 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
An “Archeology forKids” event will be atthe Biophilia Center,Freeport. 835-1824.
Tues., 7-9 p.m.
David Ott, interna-tionally recognizedcomposer and con-ductor, will present hisprogram, “MostlyMozart” as part of thefree “Better Listening”series held at theUnitarian ChurchFellowship Hall, 1295Bayshore Drive,Valparaiso.
Calendar, B-3
COMINGUP
Beacon photos by Angela Yuriko Smith
Many hugs were handed out along with receipts over the week-end as customers and employees of the Food Depot, Niceville,came to grips with the sudden news that the supermarket wasgoing out of business. Above, cashier Brittany Henry, right,says good-bye to a teary customer. Meantime, merchandisewas readied for transfer to other stores.
Food Depot,once Kelleyʼs,shuts due toʻa business decisionʼ
After 33 years, a supermarket closes
Mourning a friend’s lossNiceville girlʼs horse dies in barn fire
By Angela Yuriko SmithBeacon Staff Writer
The usually satisfied cus-tomers were not happy Fridaynight in the Food Depot super-market, at John Sims Parkwayand Palm Boulevard, Niceville,when they learned that thestore would close its doors forthe last time on Sunday, Jan.26.
It was the second supermar-ket to be shuttered in Nicevillein six months.
The news came as a shockto the 25 employees of thestore as well. The merchandiseat market in Palm Plaza isbeing divided among otherstores owned by the parentcompany, BarnesSupermarkets, Pensacola, oneof which is situated inFreeport.
“I’m so upset,” said SabrinaBooker, a regular customer. “Ilive right across the street andcome here all the time. I’mmore worried about them," shesaid, referring to the employ-ees.
Maggie Bowers onher quarter horseElvis early thismonth. The animalwas among ninehorses which diedin a barn fire in HoltJan. 19.
Courtesy photo
The voice of Niceville, Bluewater Bay and Valparaiso since 1992
Valp. gives final OK forTom Thumb expansion
Snow daysA winter storm warningcaused schools to close for arare set of snow daysTuesday and Wednesday, butnot everyone got an unex-pected holiday. Schoolresource officers like DeputySheriff Clara Thomas, pic-tured Monday at PlewElementary School, Niceville,will take to the roadways tohelp with traffic during thesevere weather. Okaloosaand Walton county schoolsand Rocky Bayou ChristianSchool were closed Tuesdayand were scheduled to beclosed Wednesday.Northwest Florida StateCollege was closed Tuesday,with a decision aboutWednesday yet to be made atpress time.
Beacon photo by Angela Yuriko Smith
Beacon photo
The Tom Thumb store in Valparaiso was given permission toadd parking on an adjacent residential lot, allowing an expan-sion of the business.
Maggie Bowers
The voice of Niceville, Bluewater Bay and Valparaiso since 1992
Page A-2 Wednesday, January 29, 2014 THE BAY BEACON
THE INQUIRING PHOTOGRAPHER —by Mike Griffith
“Broncos, becausePeyton Manning is
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Sharon Harris, 67,Choctaw Beach,
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“Whoever wins. Iʼmnot a big fan of
football.”
Candice Bellino, 29, Eglin Air Force Base,
Café Liquid owner
Jeremy Palmitier, 32, St. Helena, California,
flight medic
Will you root for the Denver Broncos or Seattle Seahawks in this yearʼs Super Bowl?
Mike Hudson, 36,Niceville,
business owner
Location: Café Liquid
“The SeattleSeahawks, but Iʼm
not really thatinterested infootball, so I
flipped a coin.”Kevin Hopkins, 40,
Freeport, software engineer
“Denver. They have allkinds of snow out
there, and theyʼll beplaying in snow.”
“Broncos. Iʼm fromDenver.”
“Seahawks,because Iʼm from
Seattle.”
Annalyse Hambleton, 17,Crestview,
Niceville High School student
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By Dani TavanoBeacon Correspondent
The North Bay FireCommission has expanded itsmutual aid agreement.
In a meeting Jan. 14, the com-mission also discussed changes todistrict policies and reviewed thefire chief’s annual report.
The meeting was called toorder by Chairman Jim Boswellat 7 p.m. in the firehouse onWhite Point Road, just as the sta-tion received a mutual aid dis-patch regarding a fire in Destin. Aloud buzzer sounded, and the fire-men who were sitting in on themeeting rushed to suit up as thedispatch was read. Within twominutes, they had left the station,sirens blaring and lights flashing.
The board checked theStatement of Assets, Liability,and Capital, as well as theStatement of Revenue andOperating Expenses forDecember 2013.
The Check Detail was brieflydiscussed for clarification, asTreasurer David Scholl had aquestion regarding a payment thatwas made to Verizon Wireless.Fire Chief Joe Miller explainedthat the payment was for comput-er tablets that the district hadrecently purchased from the cel-lular carrier.
The tablets help the depart-ment monitor which engines fromwhich fire districts are goingwhere, in real time, through GPStracking. They also facilitatefaster and more accurate commu-nication between the different firedistricts in the region, thus allow-ing for swift and coordinatedresponse to mutual aid calls.
The Deposit Detail andReconciliation Summary werethen reviewed, after whichBoswell motioned to approve theFinancial Report for December.Lee Wetzel seconded the motion,and it was approved unanimously.
Miller then read his FireChief’s Annual Report, reviewingthe details of activities for 2013.
There were no fire-relateddeaths in the district in the year,and North Bay will again file forthe “Operation Life SafetyAward,” which it has receivedfrom 2000-12 for having no fire-related deaths in these years.
Miller also reported that sever-al personnel are working towardscollege degrees and job-relatedcertification courses. “With sevenparamedics covering the threeshifts, the Advanced Life Supportprogram for the North Bay FireControl District continues toexcel, providing advanced med-ical care to the citizens and visi-tors of our area,” Miller said.
Moving on to new business,Miller suggested changes to thefinancial statement as it is usuallypresented to the board. He voicedhis opinion that it is a waste ofpaper to make so many copies ofthe full financial report, when itcould just as easily be emailed tothe commissioners, and a specificpage printed for considerationshould any of them find fault withit.
Miller said that the mostimportant part is the check record,and they could print just that partto save paper. He noted that thedistrict’s financial report is publicrecord, and if a member of thepublic inquires about it, a copycan be printed.
The board of commissionersagreed, and Boswell stated that aformal motion need not be made,and that they would present thereport in a condensed form fromnow on at the board’s monthlymeetings.
Next, North Bay Fire ControlDistrict Resolution 91-3 wasreviewed, a document which out-lines penalties and protocol formultiple false alarms at a resi-dence that result in wasting of the
fire district’s precious time, man-power, and resources.
Basically, if a property owneris negligent regarding the mainte-nance or proper use of fire alarmson their premises, and the stationreceives multiple false alarmswithin a specific time frame, thatproperty owner is subject to a fineor time in jail, or deactivation ofsaid alarm.
The penalty is more severe if itis evident that the property ownerhas taken no action to resolve theissue, whether it be a mechanicalmalfunction with the device, chil-dren of tenants who pull the alarmas a prank, etc. The burden ofproof then lies on the propertyowner to show that they havetaken measures to prevent thefalse alarms. Boswell made amotion to approve the resolution,which was seconded, andapproved by the board.
The revised Agreement forAutomatic Mutual Aid BetweenArea Fire Departments andDepartment of Public Safety wasthen reviewed. The new agree-ment now includes all the fire dis-tricts in Okaloosa County to bejoined together in mutual aid, plusSouth Walton, Holley-Navarre,and Walton County Fire ControlDistricts. Treasurer Steven Straitmade a motion to accept the doc-ument as presented, which was
seconded by Chairman Boswell,and approved.
The Interlocal Agreement ofthe Advanced Life Support FireEngine Partnership Program wasthen reviewed, discussing proce-dures for emergency medicaltransport agreed upon betweenthe Okaloosa County Board ofCommissioners and the NorthBay Fire Control District. JimBoswell motioned to approve thedocument, which was secondedand carried.
Construction projects under-way were then reviewed by theFire Marshall, Lloyd Losinger,whose responsibility it is to mon-itor these projects for their adher-ence to statutes and protocolsregarding fire safety.
Boswell and Miller then dis-cussed plans to enlist mutual aidfrom Walton County and EastNiceville Fire Control Districts inthe event of any accidents causedby the new Mid-Bay connector.They cited that the shift from fourlanes to two lanes and back againwould very probably confusemotorists, especially those fromout of town, and those not payingattention to the road signs. Theynoted that there are no lights andno fire hydrants on the connector,and that the North Bay Districtwould be at the ready in case anyincidents arise in that area.
“It was just a business deci-sion,” said Barnes executiveRob Lewis on Monday. “Eversince we’ve been in Nicevilleit's only been big enough forthree grocery stores. We’re thelow man on the totem pole. Weoutlasted Food World, but withPublix going in, we justcouldn’t hang on.”
T h eother areastores are:W i n n -D i x i e ,which haso p e r a t e dfor 21years inBluewaterB a y ;Wa l m a r t ,w h i c hopened three years ago inNiceville; and Publix, which isnearing completion of a store inNiceville that city officials havesaid will open in February.Another market, Food World,in Oak Creek Plaza, Niceville,closed in 2013 after its parentcompany filed for protectionfrom creditors under U.S. bank-ruptcy law.
Lewis said Barnes is keep-
ing as many employees as pos-sible, with “five to six going toFreeport and a couple goingover to the Pensacola store.”
A grocery store had operatedat the Food Depot location inPalm Plaza for over threedecades, opening in 1980 asKelley’s IGA, named after theKelley family of Fort WaltonBeach, which owned and oper-ated the business.
The store changed its nameto Kelley’s SuperValu in 1994.The Niceville store became theflagship of the Kelley opera-tions until it was sold to Barnesin 2008. Many Niceville resi-dents continued to refer to thestore as “Kelley’s.”
As far as what will be goinginto the vacated space, plansare uncertain. While the mer-chandise was being sent to theother Barnes stores, the fixtureswill remain at the Nicevillelocation, according to Lewis,until a buyer can be found forthem.
The owner of Palm Plaza,Ruckel Properties Inc., issuedthe following statementMonday through its rental man-ager, Dora Cawood: "The diffi-cult economic times of therecent past hurt many business-es in our area, and some wereunable to weather those toughtimes. However, recent closures
enable Ruckel Properties tocontinue to revitalize PalmPlaza by upgrading and reno-vating spaces to accommodate
new tenants. We feel sure thatthese improvements willenhance the Palm Plaza familyof businesses."
The voice of Niceville, Bluewater Bay and Valparaiso since 1992
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 Page A-3
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CLOSESFrom page A-1
Fire call punctuates meetingNorth Bay commission of issues in session
Beacon photo by Dani Tavano
The North Bay Fire Commission discusses changes to themutual aid agreement, which now encompasses all fire depart-ments in Okaloosa and Walton counties, as well as the HolleyNavarre Fire Control District.
Sabrina Booker
ArrestsOn Jan. 15, Niceville police
arrested Tiffany Kaye Simmons,31, unemployed, of 400 KazmiraCourt, Niceville, for one count ofretail theft, on a warrant stemmingfrom an incident on Nov. 5, 2013.Simmons had entered Laura’s Petand Horse Supply in Niceville andremoved a bottle of hamster vita-mins, valued at $5.99, which sheconcealed in her skirt and left thestore with no attempt to pay for themerchandise. Police obtained asworn affidavit of complaint fromthe store manager, and alsoobtained a written letter of apolo-gy and a written PoliceDepartment statement from thedefendant, stating she removed themerchandise from the store, andthat her reason for doing so was tomedicate her family’s new pet
hamster, but she did not have themoney to purchase the vitamins.
* * *On Jan. 16 an Okaloosa
County deputy sheriff arrestedKurt Wade Barrentine, 26, unem-ployed, of 1723 18th St.,Niceville, for larceny. Deputieshad received a report from aNiceville resident that Barrentinewas staying at her residence, andthat she noticed that Barrentinehad been going out late at nightand returning in the morninghours with suspicious items andhiding them. These items includedan outboard motor, welding equip-ment, and kayaks.
On Jan. 16, a deputy met withBarrentine outside the residence,where Barrentine declined thedeputy’s request to go inside theresidence. Barrentine stated thatthere were no stolen items inside,
but admitted that there was“drug.”
He was then detained, andrequested to go inside the resi-dence to retrieve his shoes.Deputies escorted him inside, andas a routine officer safety meas-ure, conducted a protective sweepfor persons inside the house. Atthat time, a deputy noticed a 15
hp outboard engine in the bath-room. Barrentine admitted tostealing the motor. Upon furtherinvestigation, he admitted to steal-ing welding equipment from anearby residence and hiding theequipment under the decking onthe side of the house. The ownersaid the welding equipment wasvalued at approximately $400.
Bear sightingOn Jan. 15, Niceville police
received a report that someone hadseen a black bear near an addresson Crystal Lake Lane. The reportwas passed on to the ValparaisoPolice Department due to the inci-dent being in that city.
Other reportsOn Jan. 7, Okaloosa deputies
responded to a report of a vehicletheft that had occurred at anaddress on Napa Way in Niceville.
The stolen vehicle was later recov-ered in a wooded area in WaltonCounty.
* * *On Jan. 10, Okaloosa deputies
responded to a report of burglaryand grand theft at an address onOak Shores Drive, Niceville.
* * *On Jan. 14, Okaloosa deputies
responded to an address inNiceville in reference to a theftthat had already occurred.
* * *On Jan. 14, Okaloosa deputies
responded to a report of grandtheft at an address on Putter Drivein Bluewater Bay. A resident therereported his golf clubs and othergolf equipment had been takenfrom his garage. The victim saidhis garage was closed all duringthe previous night and was closedmost of the morning on Jan. 14.He estimated the total value of themissing equipment at $3,195.
* * *On Jan. 14, a Bluewater Bay
resident entered the sheriff’s sub-station in Bluewater Bay to reportthat his golf clubs had been stolenfrom his carport.
* * *On Jan. 14 Niceville police
responded to an address on theEcho Creek Cove, where the com-plainant advised she had just got-ten home from work and foundher back French doors broken.Further investigation indicatedthat someone had thrown an anvilat the glass door, breaking it, butnot creating enough of an openingto enter or reach through. Nothingwas taken from the home.
* * *On Jan. 15, Niceville police
responded to a report that twovehicles had sped into the parkinglot of the Waffle House on JohnSims Parkway, where a couplejumped out and had a screamingmatch while running down a near-by alley. Police separated the cou-ple and determined that the alter-cation had been verbal rather thanphysical.
Police BlotterThe following accounts of the activities of police are according
to records of the Niceville and Valparaiso police departments, the OkaloosaCounty and Walton County sheriffʼs offices, other law-enforcement agencies,
and the Okaloosa County and Walton County jails.
Fire Department Reports
The Niceville Fire Department responded to the following calls from Jan. 17, 2014 through Jan.26, 2014.0 Structure Fire 21 Emergency Medical Calls0 Vehicle Fire 2 Vehicle Crash 1 Other Fire 0 Vehicle Crash with Extrication0 Illegal Burn 15 Other Emergency Calls0 False Alarms 0 Hazardous Conditions
STREET SITUATION DATE TIMEE. John Sims Pkwy...........................Medical ..............................1/17/14 .......................13:55Government Ave...............................Smoke scare.....................1/17/14 .......................15:44Bayshore Dr./Finck Rd. ....................Cancelled ..........................1/18/14 .......................01:24Allen St..............................................Vehicle crash.....................1/18/14 .......................01:31Campbell Dr. .....................................Cancelled ..........................1/18/14 .......................18:13Pin Oak Cir........................................Cancelled ..........................1/18/14 .......................21:24Bayshore Dr. .....................................Medical ..............................1/18/14 .......................22:18Als Dr.................................................Medical ..............................1/19/14 .......................08:08Deer St. .............................................Cancelled ..........................1/19/14 .......................18:39Roberts St. ........................................Cancelled ..........................1/19/14 .......................19:37W. John Sims Pkwy..........................Service call........................1/20/14 .......................06:13Cadillac Ave. .....................................Medical ..............................01/20/14 .....................12:26S.R. 85 N. .........................................Good intent........................1/20/14 .......................17:50Bally Way ..........................................Medical ..............................1/20/14 .......................20:33W. John Sims Pkwy..........................Cancelled ..........................1/20/14 .......................23:01N. Partin Dr. ......................................Medical ..............................1/21/14 .......................01:01S.R. 85 N. .........................................Vehicle crash.....................1/21/14 .......................14:08Nathey Ave........................................Cancelled ..........................1/21/14 .......................18:15N. Partin Dr. ......................................Cancelled ..........................1/22/14 .......................00:26Bayshore Dr. .....................................Medical ..............................1/22/14 .......................09:28Mulry Dr.............................................Alarm activation ................1/22/14 .......................10:05Maple Ave. ........................................Cancelled ..........................1/23/14 .......................04:55Cherrywood Ct..................................Medical ..............................1/23/14 .......................16:29N. Partin Dr. ......................................Kitchen fire ........................1/23/14 .......................19:26N. Partin Dr. ......................................Medical ..............................1/23/14 .......................20:42N. Partin Dr. ......................................Medical ..............................1/24/14 .......................06:42E. John Sims Pkwy...........................Medical ..............................1/24/14 .......................10:54Bayshore Dr. .....................................Service call........................1/24/14 .......................13:53N. Partin Dr. ......................................Medical ..............................1/24/14 .......................16:04N. Partin Dr. ......................................Medical ..............................1/24/14 .......................17:2623rd St...............................................Medical ..............................1/24/14 .......................19:20Chimney Rock ..................................Medical ..............................1/25/14 .......................07:42Everglade..........................................Medical ..............................1/25/14 .......................09:09E. John Sims Pkwy...........................Medical ..............................1/25/14 .......................09:3229th St...............................................Service call........................1/25/14 .......................19:50Redman Ct........................................Medical ..............................1/25/14 .......................23:2629th St...............................................Medical ..............................1/26/14 .......................08:22E. John Sims Pkwy...........................Medical ..............................1/26/14 .......................16:31N. Partin Dr. ......................................Medical ..............................1/26/14 .......................19:19
Weekly Safety Tip: Install smoke detectors on every level of the home in rooms, stairs,landings and passageways. Test smoke detectors at least once a month and change bat-teries twice a year. Like the Niceville Fire Department on Facebook
NicevillePage A-4 Wednesday, January 29, 2014
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North BayThe North B9y Fire Department responded to the following calls from Jan.17, 2014 through January 26, 2014.
STREET SITUATION DATE TIMEE. Hwy. 20 .................................False alarm................................1/17/14 ......................06:42Pine St. ......................................Medical ......................................1/17/14 ......................07:34Government Ave. ......................Dispatched & cancelled............1/17/14 ......................15:45Woodlands/Southwind..............Dispatched & cancelled............1/18/14 ......................00:25Calinda Ln. ................................Grass fire ...................................1/19/14 ......................18:58Merchants Way .........................Medical ......................................1/19/14 ......................20:38N. White Point Rd. ....................Dispatched & cancelled............1/19/14 ......................21:57N. White Point Rd. ....................Medical ......................................1/20/14 ......................08:07Jamaica Way.............................Public assist...............................1/20/14 ......................19:21Whitewood Way........................Medical ......................................1/21/14 ......................08:51Merchants Way .........................Medical ......................................1/21/14 ......................11:37Hwy. 20 East .............................Medical ......................................1/21/14 ......................15:37Bay Dr........................................Medical ......................................1/22/14 ......................02:57Oaklake Ln. ...............................Medical ......................................1/22/14 ......................05:04Hwy. 20......................................Medical ......................................1/22/14 ......................09:22White Point Rd. .........................Medical ......................................1/22/14 ......................11:08Olde Post Rd.............................Medical ......................................1/22/14 ......................13:48Windward Cir.............................Medical ......................................1/23/14 ......................08:07N. White Point Rd. ....................Medical assist............................1/23/14 ......................08:35N. White Point Rd. ....................Medical ......................................1/23/14 ......................10:46Olde Post Rd.............................Dispatched & cancelled............1/23/14 ......................15:56N. Partin Dr................................Dispatched & cancelled............1/13/14 ......................19:30Oakmont Pl................................Medical ......................................1/25/14 ......................02:57N. White Point Rd. ....................Medical ......................................1/25/14 ......................03:40The Croissings ..........................Electrical wiring .........................1/25/14 ......................18:10Range /Bluewater .....................Dispatched & cancelled............1/26/14 ......................20:20N. White Point Rd. ....................EMS rescue...............................1/26/14 ......................21:04
The voice of Niceville, Bluewater Bay and Valparaiso since 1992
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 Page A-5
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is acquiring from RuckelProperties.
During discussion of the pro-posed zoning and land-usechange, City Commissioner JoeMorgan initially expressed con-cern that once the property isrezoned, it might not always beused as a parking lot, but might,in the future, be used for someother commercial purposewhich could be less compatiblewith the adjacent residentialneighborhood. He askedwhether Tom Thumb would bewilling to agree to a restrictionon its future use of the property.
Attorney Jeff McInnis, repre-senting Tom Thumb, said thathis client “is not prepared towaive any rights in the future,”but does not currently anticipateusing the property for anythingother than a parking lot.
Mayor Bruce Arnold saidthat he did not think the cityshould “hold Tom Thumbhostage” to hypothetical futurechanges in land use.
After some further discus-sion, the commission voted 3-1in favor of the change to theland use and zoning, Morgandissenting. CommissionerDiane Kelley was absent.
In other business, commis-sioners unanimously approvedthe second and final reading ofan ordinance changing the dateof this year's municipal electionfrom March 11 to Aug. 26. Inthat election, city voters willvote for or against a proposedamended city charter.
The new date will allow thecity election to be held in con-junction with a countywide pri-mary election also scheduled forAug. 26. It will also allow thecity to reduce the cost of hold-ing the election from $4,500-$1,000, according to the ordi-nance.
City officials decided topostpone the election, normallyheld every year in March, afterthe three elective seats at stake
this year (two four-year com-mission terms and the mayoral-ty) drew only one candidateeach. With no contest for thosepositions, the charter referen-dum could be postponed fivemonths, officials decided.
Commissioners alsoapproved a resolution in whichthe City of Valparaiso commits$125,000 to the fiscal year 2013Community DevelopmentBlock Grant (CDBG) project,contingent upon receiving aCDBG grant of $700,000 fromthe Florida Department ofEconomic Opportunity (DEO),which awards such block grants.
The decision follows up onprevious action taken during thecity commission’s Jan. 13 meet-ing, during which the commis-sion held its second public hear-ing regarding its application forthe CDBG grant of $700,000 inthe DEO’s Small CityCommunity DevelopmentBlock Grant program.
To obtain such a grant, atleast 51 percent of the fundsobtained must benefit low- andmoderate-income persons. Thegrant would include $56,000 foradministration, $43,600 forengineering, and $600,400 forrehabilitation of city sewer linesand components.
According to documents pre-sented during the Jan. 13 com-mission meeting;
“The city of Valparaiso’sapplication will request fundingto provide rehabilitation to thecity’s sewer collection systemand the city’s sewer lift stations.Potential upgrades to the exist-ing sewer collection system mayinclude: the complete renova-tion and replacement of severallift stations throughout the sys-tem to address aging and deteri-orating wet wells, conversionfrom a dry pit configuration tosubmersible and replacement ofenergy inefficient pumps; andlocalized gravity sewer andforce main replacement toaccommodate the associated lift
EXPANSIONFrom page A-1
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THE BAY BEACONPage A-6 Wednesday, January 29, 2014
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station rehabilitation, as neces-sary.”
“Additionally, upgrades atthe lift stations may include theinstallation of a standby genera-tor and electrical and controlsystem upgrades.”
Joseph A. Mittauer, Presidentof Mittauer & Associates, a con-sulting and engineering firmworking with the city to designthe sewer system improvements,addressed the city commission’sJan. 13 meeting, saying that itwould be possible to improvethe city’s competitive positionfor obtaining the CDBG grantby pledging more of the city’sown money than the $25,000 thecity initially pledged, up to amaximum of $125,000.
City Commissioner HeywardStrong, who oversees the city’spublic works program, told fel-low commissioners Jan. 13 that
he would look into the city’sfinances, and report back to thecity commission during its Jan.22 meeting about how much thecity can actually afford topledge.
On Jan. 22, Strong made hisreport, recommending that thecity go ahead and pledge themaximum $125,000 amount. Ifthe CDBG grant is thenobtained, the $700,000 of thegrant would then be combinedwith the city’s $125,000 to fundthe improvements to the citysewer system. Strong suggestedthat the $125,000 could be bor-rowed from the city’s generalfund, and could be paid backwith a monthly rate hike of$2.12 per household appliedover three years. He said thateven with such a rate hike,Valparaiso’s sewer rates wouldstill compare favorably withthose of nearby sewer districtssuch as Niceville and OkaloosaCounty. Given the fact that thecity’s aging sewer system is
much in need of improvement,said Strong, the benefit of rais-ing the extra money in hopes ofobtaining the CDBG grant out-weighs the cost.
Commissioner KayHamilton, however, said that shewould like to obtain more infor-mation about the chance ofobtaining a CDBG grant nextyear versus this year, since therehave been some unconfirmedreports that the DEO’s rulesmay change next year, eliminat-ing the requirement for the cityto pledge so much of its ownmoney in order to be competi-tive for obtaining such a grant.If the rules actually change, shesaid, the city might obtain sucha grant next year without havingto pledge so much of its ownmoney or raise rates on its resi-dents.
After some further discus-sion, the commissioners voted3-1 in favor of pledging the$125,000 in hopes of obtainingthe grant, Hamilton dissenting.
OKFrom page A-5
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While you may already befamiliar with Rhino Shield, thespecial coating that lasts longerand protects better than conven-tional paint, you may not knowthat Rhino Shieldʼs new SuperShield Ceramic Roof coating cannow protect your roof as well asyour exterior walls.
“Super Shield is a uniqueproduct,” said Mike Redmond,owner of Rhino Shield GulfSouth. “This system is ideal forall kinds of roof surfaces such asasphalt, tile, aluminum, steel,copper, plywood, shakes,Styrofoam, concrete and clay.”
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Beacon photo by Mike Griffith
Eaglettes honoredThe Okaloosa County School Board honored the Niceville High School Eaglettes Dance teamMonday. The team won the 2014 Universal Dance Association's Alabama State Championsin the Out of State Varsity Hip Hop Division. The Eaglettes also won second place in the jazzdivision and received the varsity sportsmanship award. The students honored Monday were:Taylor Anderson, Alexa Verzwyvelt, Jessie Saris, Ally Greer, Allison Schwartz, LaurelBrowning, Grace Barton, Lexi Grandgenett, Johannah Wolfe, Desiree Manard, Jessi Miceli,Katie Armstrong, Skylar Barrett. Coaches are Brooke James and Jill Kerschitz.Choreographers are Denise Dicharry Galjour and Jill Kerschitz.
By Angela Yuriko SmithBeacon Staff Writer
Patrons of the Niceville PublicLibrary may have noticed somenew activity out in the library’sgated courtyard. Two feral kit-tens have made the area theirhome and been adopted by thestaff.
“The patrons are getting usedto seeing them out there,” saidLibby Gibbs. “They’ll come up tothe glass to play.” Gibbs is thewoman who is largely responsi-ble for the kittens adoption by thelibrary.
The kittens have been namedEdgar Allen Poe and DorianGrey, after the literary icons ofthe same name, and they have ashelter to help them survive in therecent cold snaps and are fed andwatered daily.
Feline Friends of Destin
worked with the library staff tocapture the kittens and give themmedical evaluations and shots.Both kittens are male and havealso been neutered. Once theywere vetted, the two felines werereleasedback intothe areathey werefound inas part ofFelineFriends’“Trap,NeuterandReturn,” aprogramthat “isthesmartest and most humane way todeal with existing outdoor catpopulations,” according to the
FFoDwebsite.
Theprograminvolvestrappingferal cats,providingthem withmedicalcare,shots andspayingor neutering before being releas-ing the animals back into theirarea.
Volunteers humanely trapdozens of cats a month and makesure that feeding stations areestablished and supervised after-wards.
“The library employees havebeen taking care of their food,”said Gibbs. “Feline Friends isresponsible for them if anythinghappens major.” The idea behind
this is to save cats that are consid-ered unadoptable, said Gibbs, andwould be euthanized immediate-ly.
“These little guys are com-pletely feral,” said Gibbs “Whichis different from ‘stray’ as in theyhaven’t had any contact withhumans, other than when theywere fixed.”
While Poe and Doe, as theyare called now, may be adoptablesome day, at the moment all par-ties involved seem content to letthings go ahead as they are.
“We’re all getting attached tothem,” said Gibbs.
The voice of Niceville, Bluewater Bay and Valparaiso since 1992
BBeeaaccoonn EExxpprree ss ss OUR TOWNPPaaggee BB--11 WWeeddnneessddaayy,, JJaannuuaarryy 2299,, 22001144
Who’s News
Beacon photo by Angela Yuriko Smith
Book release feteTerri Fedonczak, left, was at One 20A Modern Bistro, Niceville,Monday, Jan. 20 to sign copies of her new book, “Field Guideto Plugged-in Parenting: Even if You Were Raised by Wolves”at a book release party. Pictured, she signs a copy for NancyFox of Bluewater Bay.
RuckelbeatsBrunerThursdayRuckel Middle School Ramswon Thursday nightʼs soccergame against Bruner MiddleSchool with a score of 3-2.Pictured, Mattheau Martinleaps over Brunerʼs goalie tocharge the goal. Ruckel willbe playing Lewis School Jan.30. at the Twin Oaks SportsComplex, Niceville.
Beacon photo by Sarah Clauson
Elizabeth Gadzinski hasbeen named to the Dean’s Listfor the 2013 fall semester atNorthwest Florida StateCollege.
Gadzinski is a 2013 gradu-ate ofRockyBayouChristianSchool hav-ing earnedan honorsdiploma.
Uponobtainingher associ-ate’s degreeshe plans totransfer to the University ofCentral Florida in the fall of2015 to major in EventsManagement.
***Eve Glenn, 8th grade stu-
dent at Ruckel Middle School isa grand prize winner in theUnilever Community Serviceand Commitment Essay
Libby Gibbs, a Niceville Libraryemployee, has championed thecause to care for the two feralcats that live in the enclosedlibrary courtyard. Patrons cancome see the kittens playthrough the windows.
Library houses kittens in courtyard
More than books await at the Niceville Library
ElizabethGadzinski
Dorian Grey
Edgar Allen Poe
GET A FRESH STARTA New Year gives us an opportunity for a fresh start and anew attitude. If you feel your hearing is holding you captive,let us help you set yourself free.
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Robotics champs at STEMM CenterThe robotics competition team for The Doolittle Institute at the Okaloosa County STEMM Center,Valparaiso, won first place, and the Championʼs Trophy, in a robotics tournament at NorthwestFlorida State College Jan. 18 as part of the “2013 Natureʼs Fury Challenge.” This is the first timeNWFSC hosted the event. Pictured from left, Robin Wynn, Indira Mishra, Natalie Cross, LiviaHughes, Ben Baltz, Chris Loffler, Mary Mason White and Jasmine Mishra.
The voice of Niceville, Bluewater Bay and Valparaiso since 1992
Page B-2 Wednesday, January 29, 2014 THE BAY BEACON
OkaloosaVolunteerof the YearMary Norton, right, betterknown as “Granny” to hun-dreds of BluewaterElementary students, wasrecently named as the recipi-ent of the Okaloosa SchoolDistrictʼs “OutstandingSchool Volunteer of the Year”award, senior category. Shehas volunteered for the past10 years. Pictured with AmyKlugh, Bluewater assistantprincipal, who is giving heran official name badge thatsays “Granny.”
Mayor and wife give new stove to childrenʼs centerMayor Wise and his wife Helen donated a new stove to the Childrenʼs Advocacy Center. After 13years of baking more than 100,000 plus cookies, the oven door on the old stove fell off making itnecessary to be replaced. Pictured from left, Vida Brinson, Debbie Hollis, Mayor Randall Wise andJulie Hurst.
Lady Eagleslose to SouthWaltonNiceville High School LadyEagles lost their last varsitybasketball game to SouthWalton High School, SantaRosa Beach Friday with ascore of 47-36. Their nextgame will be in Fort WaltonBeach Jan. 30 for a districtgame against CrestviewHigh School. Pictured, EliseStuart takes control of theball.
Beacon photo by Sarah Clauson
Twins at Lewis rank first in All-StateAndrew and Tacy Colón, 8th grade twins at Lewis School, wererecently each ranked number one in the state of Florida ontheir respective instruments at the Florida Music EducatorsAssociation convention Jan. 11 in Tampa. Pictured, Andrewand Tacy, just after their performance as principal players inthe All-State Band.
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Movie eventThe Valparaiso Community
Library invites teens toa special showing of“The Lone Ranger,”rated PG-13, on Jan. 29at 3 p.m.
Children under 13must be accompanied by an adult.For questions, call 729-5406.
Alzheimerʼs support groupA support group for those affect-
ed by Alzheimer’s will be held at10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 29 atthe Niceville United MethodistChurch, Chandler Center, 214 S.Partin Drive. The support group isfree and limited respite care is avail-able, reserve in advance by calling866-478-7790.
All County performanceThe All County Bands, musi-
cians from various local HighSchool bands, perform in an AllCounty Band concert Jan. 31 at 7p.m. Event is free at the MainstageTheater, Mattie Kelly Arts Center,Niceville.
Republican Women meetThe Republican Women of
Okaloosa Federated will meet onFeb. 5 at the Wyndham GardenHotel on Okaloosa Island.Socializing will begin at 11:30 a.m.,with lunch at noon. There will be a“Dine and Dash” table, which willaccommodate those who can onlystay for a limited time.
“The Media in Politics” will bepresented by Michael Griffith, areporter and photographer for TheBay Beacon.
To make a reservation, contactDonna Pattison at 651-5416 or [email protected] by noon on Jan.31. Cost of the lunch is $16 formembers and $18 for guests. Formore information about RWOF, visitrwof.org.
Worship and WordPastors Walter and Barbara
Williams, along with the membersof All God’s Children and TheLiving Word Worship Center, 40 S.John Sims Parkway, Valparaiso,welcomes special guest Joni Amesfor their Friday Night Live Serviceon January 31 at 7 p.m. All are invit-ed. For more information call 678-7632.
Bird walkMaster birder, Bruce Purdy, will
lead a bird walk to theOkaloosa County Landfilland Ft. Walton sprayfields on Feb. 1. Thislocation consistently pro-duces the highest species counts inour area with wintering shorebirds,raptors, ducks, songbirds and more.
Wear good shoes, bring waterand insect repellent. Meet at Coach
and 4 Restaurant at 1313 LewisTurner Blvd., Fort Walton Beach at7:30 a.m. Call Bruce at 305-359-5334 for more info.
Income tax help Volunteers from AARP will pro-
vide free individual federal tax assis-tance on an appointment only basisat the Niceville Library beginningFeb. 1-April 12. Days and timesavailable are Saturdays 9–1,Wednesdays 9–1 and Fridays 9–4.
Individuals seeking 2013 federaltax preparation help can sign up atthe Reference Desk or call thelibrary at 729-4090 or 279-4863x1507 to make an appointment.
According to AARP officials,individual income tax preparationassistance is limited to 2013 federalincome taxes only.
IRS tax forms are available in thelibrary lobby. Many major formsand instruction booklets may not beavailable till late February accordingto a recent IRS notification.
Biophilia eventThere will be an “Archeology for
Kids” event at the Biophilia Center,Freeport, on Saturday, Feb. 1 from10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with special pro-grams at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Formore info, call 835-1824 or visiteowilsoncenter.org.
Black History dinnerThe Okaloosa County Chapter of
the Democratic Black Caucus ofFlorida will be having a OkaloosaCounty Black Caucus’ BlackHistory Fundraising Dinner on Feb.1 at 6 p.m. at the Ramada Inn onOkaloosa Island.
The event’s theme,“Teamwork makes theDream Work,” will behighlighted by keynotespeaker Dr. Melvin T.Stith, Dean Emeritus at the WhitmanSchool of Management, SyracuseUniversity.
Tickets for this event are $50 perperson with proceeds benefitting theOkaloosa Black Caucus’ annual “getout the vote” campaign.
To purchase, contact JeromeLewis 376-3142, Naomi Hardison499-0204, Diane Dillard 226-1346or the Okaloosa County DemocraticParty at 609-3367.
Watercolor workshopDon Andrews, nationally known
watercolor artist, will present a“Beginning Landscape” class at theArts and Design Society’s (ADSO)Art Center Studio, 17 First Street,SE, Fort Walton Beach on Feb. 1from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. This class is forbeginning through advanced water-color students. Cost is $120 forADSO members, $130 for non-members. Students provide theirown materials.
To sign up for this workshop visitthe ADSO website at artsdesignsoci-ety.org or call 244-1271 Tuesdaythrough Friday, 1-4 p.m.
History weekendMake history part of your future
with “Home School Fridays” and“Hands-On History Saturdays,” amonthly program based on theFlorida core standards for educationfor children ages 5-12 at theHeritage Museum of NorthwestFlorida, Valparaiso. Each month,from now until June a different pro-
gram will be presented related toNorthwest Florida history for chil-dren and families.
February’s program will be“Bayou Living” on Feb. 1 and 7from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
$7 per child or $5 for museumfamily members. Special deal fornew family members. Groups wel-come, space is limited so please pre-register at 678-2615.
Mac usersThe February meeting of the
Mac Users Group will be held onMonday, Feb. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at theNorthwest Florida State CollegeStudent Services Building, room132.
Anne Hornstein will be present-ing a program entitled “Short cuts,Secrets and Simple Hints.” This willbe a hands-on, interactive workshopfor using your Macintosh computerand iPad. Some of the applicationsto be covered will be eMail,Contacts, Pages, iPhoto, Calendar,Reminders and Notes.
Attendees are encouraged tobring their Mac devices and will begiven an opportunity to share infor-mation and ask questions.
For more information, visitFWBMug.com or contact JeanDutton at 862-3327 or [email protected].
Classical commentaryThe “Better Listening” series
combines commentaries on classicmusic and related CD selectionseach Tuesday evening from Feb. 4through March 25 from 7-9 p.m. atthe Unitarian Church FellowshipHall, 1295 Bayshore Drive,Valparaiso. All sessions are free andopen to the public. No reservationsrequired.
Feb. 4 will be Dr. David Ott,internationally recognized composerand conductor, will open theUnitarian Church sponsored com-munity classical music study serieswith his program, “Mostly Mozart.”For more info, contact Lou Johnsonat [email protected].
Open mic poetry nightJoin fellow poets Feb. 5 for “Say
the Word,” an open mic poetry read-ing at the French Quarter Bar &Grill, 714 Howell Rd., Niceville, at7 p.m.
The event is free of charge andall are welcome to take the mic.Each performer should plan to shareabout 2-3 poems, either their own orby another author.
Read to BaciBaci, a Bichon Frise therapy dog,
loves a good book. If you areage five or older and would like toread a story to Baci, join him in theYouth Services programroom Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 3:30p.m. This is a first come, first servedprogram. You may bring a book orchoose from the library collection.
Daughters of colonistsEucheeanna Chapter, Daughters
of the American Colonists will haveits next meeting on Feb. 5 inNiceville. Women over the age of18 are welcome to join.Membership in the NSDAC is aunique opportunity to honor one’slineage and heritage as a descendant
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CALENDAR
The voice of Niceville, Bluewater Bay and Valparaiso since 1992
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 Page B-3THE BAY BEACON
Teacher,staff ofthe yearfor PlewSonja Leighton, left, hasbeen selected as PlewElementaryʼs Teacher ofthe Year and Lynne Rollhas been selected asPlewʼs EducationalSupport Person of theYear.
Beacon photo by Angela Yuriko Smith
Museum class learns to weave rushesInterested students gathered despite the chilly night Jan. 21 to learn to make woven rush seats atthe Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida, Valparaiso. Each student made the seat for a stool astheir project. Pictured from left, Susan Adamov, Christine Reiner, instructor Phil Richter, ElaineLightfoot and Marsha Cox. For information on future classes call 678-2615.
Prepare for tax timeVolunteers from AARP will provide free individual federal tax assistance on an appointment onlybasis at the Niceville Library beginning Feb. 1-April 12. Days and times available are Saturdays 9–1, Wednesdays 9–1 and Fridays 9–4. Individuals seeking 2013 federal tax preparation help cansign up at the Reference Desk or call the library at 729-4090 or 279-4863 x1507 to make an appoint-ment.
Eaglettes shine at dance championshipThe Niceville High School Eaglette Dance team traveled to Birmingham on Saturday, Jan. 11, tocompete at the UDA Alabama State Championship. In the out-of-state division, they placed first inVarsity Hip Hop and second in Varsity Jazz. The team was also awarded the “SportsmanshipAward” for all varsity teams. Pictured top row from left, Laurel Browning, Jessi Miceli, LexiGrandgenett, Katie Armstrong, Jessie Saris, Grace Barton, Skylar Barrett and Allison Schwartz.Bottom row from left, Johannah Wolfe, Desiree Manard, Taylor Anderson, Alexa Verzwyvelt andAlly Greer.
Edge lauds staff of the yearAngelle Rosenbleeth, left, has been selectedas Edge Elementaryʼs Teacher of the Yearand Cindy Dooley has been selected asEdge's Educational Support Person of theYear.
Please see CALENDAR, page B-4
Reservations required, call 850.729.9463.Complimentary lunch provided.
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The Heritage Museum ofNorthwest Florida inValparaiso is seeking craft andfood vendors, re-enactors andtraditional craft demonstratorsfor their38thannual“Saturdayin theParkHeritageFestival”to be heldon April26 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
This family friendly eventhas long supported the muse-um’s efforts to promote the richhistory of Northwest Florida.
The festival begins at 8 a.m.with the Heritage 5K Run/Walkand the Kids Fun Run and isfollowed by a day of historiccelebration with re-enactments,craft demonstrations, live enter-tainment, a Kid Zone withbounce house, children’s craftsand much more.
Vendor space is limited.Registration forms are avail-able at the museum or can berequested by [email protected].
Individuals interested insigning up for the event areurged to carefully review therules section of the application.Contact the museum at 678-2615 for more information.
The voice of Niceville, Bluewater Bay and Valparaiso since 1992
1181 E. John Sims Parkway,Niceville, Florida 32578
(850) [email protected] 1-888-520-9323
The BayBeacon
& Beacon Express
The Bay Beacon and BeaconExpress, incorporating the Bluewater
Breeze, is published everyWednesday by Bayou Enterprises
Inc. Free total-market home deliveryto Niceville, Valparaiso, BluewaterBay and Seminole, as well as mid-Walton County from Villa Tasso toBasin Bayou, including ChoctawBeach. Subscriptions: One year,mail, $104. One year, electronic
subscription, $52. All submissionsfor publication become property of
The Bay Beacon.
Nicevilleʼs Newspaper
NWFSCImproves
Lives!
NWFSC prohibits any form of discrimination on the basis of age, color, ethnicity, disability, marital status, national origin, race, religion, genetic information or gender in any of its programs, services, or activities.
www.nwfsc.edu/openhouse
100 College Boulevard East, Niceville, FL 32578
Niceville Campus
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Page B-4
of the American Colonials. Forinformation contact MargaretNichols at 897-1278.
Early release movieThe Valparaiso Community
Library invites children and familiesto the next Early Release MovieDay on Feb. 6 at 1:30 p.m. Themovie will be “Cloudy With aChance of Meatballs 2,” rated PG.Popcorn will be served, seating islimited. 729-5406.
Audubon meetsThe Audubon monthly meeting
will be Feb. 6 with the program“Alabama and FloridaHummingbirds, a Lot More ThanYou Think” by Fred Bassett, certi-fied master bird bander. The pro-gram will discuss Ruby ThroatedHummingbirds in detail and intro-duce several western humming birdspecies that winter in the Southeastthat have been banded and sightedoften.
The meeting will be held inRoom 130 on the ground floor ofthe Student Services Center at theNiceville campus of NorthwestFlorida State College, and willbegin at 6:30 p.m. with socializingand light refreshments. The meet-ing is free and open to the interestedpublic. For more information, callWalt Spence at 582-7064.
CALENDARFrom page B-3
C o n t e s t .The prize isa $5,000grant contri-bution to aFlorida 529C o l l e g eS a v i n g sPlan.
WHOʼSFrom page B-1
Eve Glenn
‘Saturdayin thePark’ seeksvendors
