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Note to readers

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Saturday, June 6, the 71st anniversary of D-Day, came and went and we didn’t have anything about it in our news pages.

We should have. The Allied landings in Western Europe were the beginning of the end of World War II.

To this day, many of our readers have vivid memories of that time. No disrespect was intended toward them.

In the future, we’ll work hard to make sure occasions like this are commemorated in our pages.

— Wendy Victora, interim editor
 


Iranian hostage rescue attempt survivor dies at 72

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NICEVILLE — Retired Air Force Staff Sgt. Joseph James “J.J.” Beyers, who survived severe burns and other injuries during Operation Eagle Claw in 1980, died Thursday. He was 72.

Beyers suffered third-degree burns on his legs, and his hands were burnt to the bone after the aircraft he was serving on caught fire on a desolate stretch of Iranian desert on April 24, 1980. Three of his fellow flight crew members died, as well as five Marines on one of the helicopters that also caught fire during the mission.

“I don’t think anyone expected him to live,” said Ray Doyle, a Crestview resident and Eagle Claw veteran. “He was in excruciating pain.”

Beyers was part of an elite group of commandos who took part in the effort to free the Americans who had been taken hostage during the Iranian Revolution. The ill-fated mission led to the creation of today’s U.S. Special Operations Command.

Following the accident, he spent three weeks floating in and out of consciousness while in a hospital in Washington, D.C. While he had no memory of it, he was told that President Carter came to visit him and gave him an inscribed Bible.

“He went through a great deal of hardship after the accident, but he carried on,” said Valparaiso resident Bob Underwood, a longtime friend and fellow air commando. “He had several surgeries and had to go through rehabilitation. But in later years, he would go to different military schools and talk about the lessons learned from the mission.”

Beyers was medically retired following the accident. The South Carolina native was a single parent at the time of his injuries, and his second wife, Yvonne, believes that is why he survived.

“He always used to say that the reason God allowed him to live was because of his kids,” she said. “He loved his family.”

IF YOU GO: Visitation for J.J. Beyers will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Heritage Gardens Funeral Home, 2201 North Partin Drive in Niceville. A funeral Mass will take place at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, 1200 Valparaiso Boulevard in Niceville, at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Interment will follow at Heritage Gardens Cemetery. The Northwest Florida Patriot Guard will provide an escort to the cemetery.

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Kelly Humphrey at 850-315-4443 or khumphrey@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @kellyhnwfdn.

FWC investigating fish kill (PHOTOS)

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Multiple agencies, including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, are looking into why hundreds of fish are washing up on local beaches.

Reports began rolling in over the weekend from people on beaches across Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties, according to Catalina Brown, the Fish Kill Hotline coordinator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.

“It’s too early for us to know what it could be,” Brown said.

PHOTOS of the fish kill.

Katy Krueger was out walking on Navarre Beach Monday morning when she encountered the dead fish.

“I counted to 100 and then I stopped counting,” she said.

She said the fish looked relatively fresh and were also visible in the water. A few seagulls were around, but they didn’t seem overly interested in the dead fish, Krueger said.

Brown said while they’ve seen photographs of the fish, the agency has a policy to only identify them in person, so the exact species washing up aren’t known at this time.

Officials suspect they are bait fish.

Water samples were also collected Monday and were expected to be at the research institute for testing by Tuesday.

Staff will be looking for various types of algae in the water. If that is ruled out, other options will be considered such as a net dump from a fishing boat.

FWC hasn’t had any recent reports of a red tide, she added. Algae blooms can happen at any time and the research institute is constantly monitoring Florida waters for it, according to FWC spokeswoman Kelly Richmond.

“If they were aware of a bloom, we would know about it,” she said.

If it is a red tide, people with sensitive skin are advised to avoid the water and others to wash well after exiting, Richmond said.

If it was a fish dump, the impact for bathers is limited.

Additional information about the so-called fish kill is expected later this week.

The Florida Department Of Health In Okaloosa County said no additional testing was being done this week because of the dead fish, but did offer the following tips:

  • Always rinse off after swimming in the Gulf of Mexico
  • Don’t drink water from the gulf
  • Pay attention to health advisories and other warning signs posted at the beach.
  • If anyone becomes ill after swimming, they should seek medical attention immediately.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Katie Tammen at 850-315-4440 or ktammen@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KatieTnwfdn.

Pedestrian struck and killed Saturday identified

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The man who died Saturday after being hit by a car in Crestview was identified Monday as Steven Beaupre.

He and an acquaintance, William Dale Barber, were struck by a small car as they were pulling scrap metal behind an “industrial-size wagon,” according to Crestview Police Lt. Don Fountain.

Beaupre was pronounced dead at the scene and Barber was flown to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. He was listed Monday in fair condition, according to a news release issued by the Crestview Police Department.

Julie Agerton, a Crestview resident, was identified as the driver of a Mitsubishi Mirage that failed to properly stop at the intersection of Wilson Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard before striking the two men, the release said.

Agerton “has an extensive history with law enforcement,” Fountain said. A search warrant was secured to see if Agerton was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the 9:30 a.m. accident, Fountain said.

Police are awaiting toxicology reports, Fountain said.

The road was closed for several hours as police laser mapped “all of the debris” at the accident scene, Fountain said.

Both victims were believed to have been homeless, Fountain said, which caused delays in notifying next of kin of Beaupre’s death and releasing his name to the public.

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Tom McLaughlin at 850-315-4435 or tmclaughlin@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomMnwfdn.

Study: 20 of 50 hospitals that charge most are in Florida

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MIAMI — A study appearing in the June issue of the journal Health Affairs has found that 20 of the 50 U.S. hospitals that charge the most for their services are located in Florida. All but one of them are for-profits.

Most states don't limit what hospitals charge for their services, making it easier for hospitals to set excessively high rates. U.S. hospitals charged on average more than three times the Medicare-allowable costs.

The study comes amid a national push to increase transparency in hopes of curbing rising health costs.

The study encouraged lawmakers to require hospitals to publish cost data.

Some for-profit hospitals criticized the study, saying it did not account for the discounts and billions in charity care that they give low-income patients.
 

Harris to file for state House seat

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Okaloosa County Commissioner Wayne Harris could be headed to the state Capitol.

Harris announced Monday that he plans to file to run for the District 4 State House seat.
“I truly want to make a difference,” said Harris, whose second commission term will end in November 2016. “I always said I’d planned on doing eight years at the county. I want some new blood to come in and take over.”

The seat, currently held by state Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, will come available in 2016. Gaetz has already filed to run for the District 1 State Senate seat currently held by his father, Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville. Don Gaetz is considering running to replace U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller if Miller opts to seek U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio’s seat.

Harris, a Republican, said he plans to file on Wednesday in Tallahassee.

In addition to his seat on the commission, Harris is the executive director of the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce – a post he plans to leave in June 2016. He also served 27 years in the Air Force and has run several of his own businesses.

Under state election rules, he will have to submit his resignation from the county commission before Election Day in 2016.

Harris said he had intended to retire after leaving the commission in 2016 but began thinking about service at the state level after some constituents proposed the idea.

“It would be an extension of what I’m doing right now,” he said. “And maybe I can make things better. I look forward to the challenge.”

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Kari C. Barlow at 850-315-4438 or kbarlow@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KariBnwfdn.

PHOTOS and VIDEO: Billy Bowlegs Torchlight Parade

April tests indicated coliform in FWB drinking water (DOCUMENT)

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FORT WALTON BEACH — The city’s drinking water tested positive for coliform bacteria over a two-day span in April but residents were never in danger, officials said Monday.

The results were discovered April 14 during routine testing of the city’s water system. Under its permit with the state Department of Environmental Protection, the city can have no more than one sample test positive for coliform bacteria each month.

“What happened was we got a positive sample at two locations,” City Manager Michael Beedie said. “We got one at our commerce park and the other on Hollywood Boulevard near Fort Walton Beach High School.”

Read the notice.

Multiple samples were taken April 15 and turned up a second positive result. By April 16, “the problem area was flushed thoroughly” and retested with negative results, according to a notice from the city.

Beedie said the city’s water was always safe to drink and never needed boiling. Coliform bacteria are generally not the cause of serious illness, but they can be used to indicate the presence of more dangerous forms of bacteria that originate from feces, such as fecal coliform or E. coli, which can cause a variety of infections in humans.

No fecal coliform or E. coli was found in the city’s water, Beedie said.

“If there would have been a need for that, we would have issued a notice,” he said. “It was one of those things that was a rare occurrence. This is the first time it’s happened … since I’ve been here.”

The test results triggered a notification process — required by the DEP — that might just now be reaching some residents.

As part of the process, the city ran an advertisement in the Daily News on April 23 explaining the test results and inserted the same notice into individual water bills.

“We have four billing cycles, and each week we do a quarter of the city,” Beedie said. “That’s why some people got it in May and some people are finally getting it (now.)”

The notice told residents there was no need to boil their water or use bottled water as an alternative. It did, however, indicate that people with compromised immune systems, the elderly or those with infants or who were expecting might be at increased risk and should seek advice from their doctors about drinking the water.

That kind of warning for the “medically fragile” is often included “in an abundance of caution,” said Dr. Karen Chapman, director of the Okaloosa County Health Department.

“The risk here was very, very small,” Chapman said, adding that coliform bacteria is already present in the human body.

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Kari C. Barlow at 850-315-4438 or kbarlow@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KariBnwfdn.


Man wearing pregnancy belly accused of kidnapping

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FORT WALTON BEACH — A Fort Walton Beach man who told police he was trying to scare his estranged wife into coming back to him has been charged with kidnapping and battery involving domestic violence.

The victim was getting into her car at her house on Hollywood Boulevard when she was approached from behind by a man wearing a fake pregnancy belly, a mouth insert and pantyhose over his head, according to a press release from the Fort Walton Beach Police Department.

George Leard, who is 49, reached in and grabbed the victim’s arm and pulled her out of her car.

She tried to give him her keys, but he shoved her back into the car instead, the release said.

After she screamed for help, others came to her rescue.

Her neighbors – a mother and her son – chased Leard, caught him and detained him until police arrived, the release said.

Leard and the victim have been separated for more than a year.

He told officers he wanted to scare her so she would come back to him, but that he didn’t mean any harm, according to the news release.
 

Community helping fire victims recover

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NAVARRE — After two back-to-back fires erupted in Holley by the Sea Sunday morning, the community acted quickly to help the families who now find themselves without basic necessities.

“They’re a part of the community,” said April Salazar, general manager of the HBTS Recreation Center. “We wanted to do this as good neighbors.”

The rec center has designated itself as a central location for donations to be dropped off.

 “They need everything,” Salazar said. “We're still trying to coordinate and gather info on both families and we'll regroup.”

The two fires were within hours of each other and less than a mile apart. The first, on Summit Drive, occurred at 3:38 a.m. and the second was at 8:20 a.m. on Hidden Creek Drive.

Salazar said the earlier fire on Summit Drive affected a father and his teenage daughter.

The house on Hidden Creek Drive was home to the Watkins family, who just moved in two months ago.

They lost everything within hours.

Scott Veroneau, pastor at the sound side campus of Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church, took to Facebook Sunday afternoon to alert the community about the Watkins family’s loss after the Hidden Creek Drive fire.

“It’s the church way — it’s what we’re supposed to do,” Veroneau said.

The Watkins have three kids, who all play baseball and have tournaments this weekend. Jean and her husband Darrell are active in the Navarre Youth and Sports Association.

Veroneau said he received gift cards to Hibbett Sports, along with cleats and baseball helmets to deliver to the family within 24 hours.

This act of kindness is not lost on the Watkins.

“We’re thankful for the outpouring of love from our community,” said Jean. “We couldn’t ask for a better place to live.”

“We’ll be rebuilding the same house in the same place. If that’s not a true testimony to this community I don’t know what is.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP: The Holley by the Sea Recreation Center, located at 6848 Navarre Pkwy., will collect donations. The center is open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. A GoFundMe page for the Watkins Family can be found here 

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Jennie McKeon at 850-315-4432 or jmckeon@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @JennieMnwfdn.

Wreck involving hydrant floods street, sends one to the hospital (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

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FORT WALTON BEACH — The driver of a sedan was taken to Fort Walton Beach Medical Center on Monday after she was struck by the driver of an SUV. The driver of the SUV failed to stop at a four-way intersection at Birch St and Church Avenue, according to Fort Walton Beach Police.

The SUV struck a fire hydrant, which caused a nearby neighborhood to temporarily flood. One neighbor cheered as city water distribution officials turned the water off.

PHOTOS: View photos from the scene.

VIDEO: View a video from the scene.

Health Department evacuated because of suspicious package

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Fort Walton Beach Police Capt. Bill Royal leaned into the patrol car of another officer and said “It’s gonna be one of them days.”

The two were part of a team called in at shortly before quitting time Monday to man a perimeter around the Okaloosa County Health Department headquarters on Staff Drive.

A suspicious package found in the lobby of the Health Department forced the building’s evacuation and redirected traffic from Ferry Road to Yacht Club Drive, Royal said.

Fort Walton Beach’s police and fire departments were manning the perimeter, awaiting the arrival from a bomb squad from Panama City and a state fire marshal from Pensacola.

The bomb squad arrived about the same time as the owner of the package, who had reportedly forgotten his backpack. With the mystery solved, the backpack was turned over to its owner and the crisis averted.

Some people were inconvenienced trying to get out of their businesses and Royal anticipated more aggravation when people began showing up  close to where the perimeter had been established to find parking for Monday’s Billy Bowleg’s Torchlight Parade.

“They park anywhere they can,” he said.

Royal said he anticipated no manpower shortages would be caused by the overlapping parade and the call to the Health Department.

“The officers working the parade are off duty,” he said. “The officers working this are on duty.”

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Tom McLaughlin at 850-315-4435 or tmclaughlin@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomMnwfdn.

New Val-p dock ordinance postponed

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VALPARAISO — There’s been a full house at the city’s last two commission meetings. 

The majority of the crowd at Monday’s meeting went home early, however, when Mayor Bruce Arnold asked that the agenda item regarding a new ordinance on docks in the Plat I section of the city be postponed.

“I’ve just received a copy of the proposed ordinance, and I don’t feel comfortable discussing it yet,” he said.

Commissioner Joe Morgan, the main author of the ordinance, argued that since it would be the first reading of the proposal, the commissioners should be able to at least discuss the subject. But City Attorney Hayward Dykes warned that any decisions made regarding the Plat I area could affect the pending litigation regarding the ownership of the land that Doc’s Oyster Bar sits on.

In the end, the commission voted to postpone discussion of the proposal, much to the dismay of Paul and Britt Walker.

The Walkers have been battling the city since April, when they were informed that they had violated city codes by making repairs to their dock, which is located on public property across the street from their home on North Bayshore Drive. They were told that their case would be heard by a magistrate.

At a special meeting on May 26, the commission voted to allow dock owners in the Plat 1 area to make repairs to their docks. But the Walkers said they haven’t received any official notice regarding their situation.

“I still don’t know if I have to go before a magistrate or not,” Paul Walker said to the commission.

The commission didn’t initially respond to Walker at the beginning of the meeting. Toward the end of the meeting, however, the board asked Dykes to draft a notice to the Walkers that they will not have to attend a special hearing.

“We need to let these folks know what’s going on,” Commissioner Kay Hamilton said.

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Kelly Humphrey at 850-315-4443 or khumphrey@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @kellyhnwfdn.

Things you might find when you stroll the beach

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It’s a cliché, but a lot of people really do enjoy taking long walks on the beach.

It’s a good workout, you can cool off in the water...and there are plenty of neat views.

Here’s just a few of things you might find when you’re walking down the beach.

Games
Be a spectator and catch a little corn hole, football or volleyball next time you’re taking a stroll. It’s like getting a free ticket to a game. Sort of.

Sargassum
Maybe it’s not always a welcome sight, but it really won’t hurt you. In fact, when you’re just walking the beach it’s easier to kick it away.

Architecture
You may not see any professional sand sculptures on Navarre Beach this year since the annual festival was canceled — for now — but that doesn’t mean you won’t come across some fine craftsmanship from young minds. Some sand castles are elaborate kingdoms, while others are just sandy mounds, but it’s fun to see how different they all can be.

Anglers
You don’t always have to head to local fishing piers to catch up on the fishing action. Sometimes, you’ll see anglers setting up their poles a little closer to shore.

Lifeguards
Local lifeguards spend the better part of their summer making the beaches safer for locals and visitors. It’s always nice to glance over and see the red-clad guards up in their towers or walking the beach with you.

Wildlife
From the water to the sand, you may come across a variety of creatures. Shorebirds such as black skimmers, least terns, American oystercatchers, Wilson’s plovers are nesting along the shores from March to August (which is why speed limits are 20 miles per hour around the beach). You may also see some crabs, fish and the occasional turtle.

Shells
Some parents and grandparents like to “plant” seashells for walks on the beach so that kids can find large, pristine shells. But the random pieces you will most often come across are special, too. They can be used for various arts and crafts projects — like a mosaic.

SHARE YOUR BEACH FINDS: You can share your beach walks with us by tagging Northwest Florida Daily News on Facebook, Twitter (@nwfdailynews) or Instagram (@nwfdailynews)

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Jennie McKeon at 850-315-4432 or jmckeon@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @JennieMnwfdn.

Who is Captain Billy 61?

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There’ve been pirates a many through 61 years of celebrations today. He’s learned from the greatest of them to band together going into the fray.

True pirate colors are his of Black, Silver and Red. His background in science is proven and will be useful, so many have said.

His skills, there are plenty…there’s no job he can’t do. But his passion abounds, in the sea and the Krewe.

He’s planned for months, gathering a band of sharp pirates and wenches. They’ll bond, party and travel, no place untouched…on land, sea or trenches.

He’ll sail the horizons through high seas, and calm bays. Defending his Krewe and their treasures, with the fiercest weapons available today.

So, come join him to celebrate, all are welcome to party and play. Pirates again rule this town, with Captain Billy 61 and Bombs Away!

The public is invited to the NWFSC Art Center, Niceville campus, as the New Krewe and Captain enter. The show begins June 13th, 7 o'clock at night. Come help start the party, let’s kick it off right!


Dancing to the top: 3 ballet students off to NYC schools

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FORT WALTON BEACH — Summer will see three members of the Northwest Florida Ballet Pre-professional program jetting off to prestigious dance programs this summer.

One won’t return to the Emerald Coast after she leaves, and the other two have their eyes set on a similar outcome.

Courtney Shealy, Ellie Borick and Sabrina Lobner are each headed to New York City to grow the skills they started cultivating in the third grade at the NWF Ballet Académie.

“I’m so proud of them,” said Todd Allen, who oversees the local ballet. “Watching them dance up there, it’s great. This is what I wish for them.”

They’ll each be dancing at the top ballet programs even as some of their peers head off to summer programs with the Pacific Northwest Ballet, the Next Generation Ballet and the Orlando Ballet.

All three girls credit their years at the school with preparing them for their upcoming adventures.

“It’s just amazing what we have here in Fort Walton Beach, Florida,” said Ellie Borick, who will attend the School of American Ballet.

Courtney Shealy, 17
American Ballet Theater
Full scholarship, plus housing and travel allowance

Courtney was at NWF Ballet when she received the email she’d gotten into ABT. Shortly after a second email came saying all her costs were covered.
“I was crying for a good 30 to 40 minutes,” she said. “I’ve never really had this, ever.”

She’ll leave June 20 for a five-week summer program along with 14 other dancers. When it’s over, she’ll stay in a shared apartment and keep dancing with ABT.

Rather than get a high school diploma, she’s decided to get her GED and immediately start working on her associates degree.

Ideally, by the end of the year, she’ll be selected to join the ballet company.

“I still have to pinch myself every day,” she said.

Sabrina Lobner, 17
The Juilliard School
Full scholarship

Sabrina started her training with classical ballet, but quickly discovered a passion for contemporary dance.

For three weeks in July, she’ll get to expand her skills through the Juilliard summer program.

“I was in disbelief because they take 22 girls and 22 guys,” Sabrina said. “All I saw was the subject line, ‘Congratulations.’ ”

After the summer program, she plans to return to the Pre-professional program so she is prepared to audition in the winter for Juilliard’s college program. It only takes 11 girls and 11 boys.

She credits the school and her parents with helping her get this far.

“Everybody here has a support group behind them,” she said.

Ellie Borick, 14
School of American Ballet
Full scholarship

Ellie is one step closer to her dream of breaking the stereotype for female ballet dancers.

Standing at just under five-feet, Ellie is more petite than most of her counterparts, but she hasn’t let it get in her way.

Earlier this year, the 14-year-old found out she’d been spending part of her summer at the school that trains dancers for the New York City Ballet.

“After the audition, they said every number could leave but me,” Ellie said.

Then one of her favorite dancers told her she was in and gave her a hug. She burst into tears.

“I came out of the audition and my mom thought I was hurt,” she said.

Ellie will return to the Pre-professional program in Fort Walton Beach in the fall unless she locks in the spot at the School of American Ballet, which would allow her stay in New York City and dance her way to her dream ballet company.

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Katie Tammen at 850-315-4440 or ktammen@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KatieTnwfdn.

First FSA information released; Santa Rosa leads locally (DOCUMENTS)

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School districts have received a little insight into how students performed on one of the new standardized tests in Florida.

The percentage of third graders who received the lowest 1/5 of scores on the Florida Standards Assessment in reading was just released by the Florida Department of Education.

Only 9 percent of students in Santa Rosa County were in the lowest-performing group and Okaloosa and Walton counties both saw 12 percent of their students there, according to the data.

The state average was 20 percent.

See the district rankings.

See the school-by-school results.

“That demonstrates a very solid performance on behalf of our students,” said Santa Rosa County Superintendent Tim Wyrosdick.

Actual scores for the exams won’t be released for months as the state works to validate the results and establish the scores to receive a rating of one through five on the exam, according to Cheryl Etters, a FDOE spokeswoman.

Districts are using the limited information the best ways they can to plan for next year, according to Marcus Chambers, an assistant superintendent in Okaloosa County.

“Big picture, overall, it’s good news at this point,” Chambers said.

In past years, the reading exam was the primary factor used to determine whether or not a student progressed to fourth grade. With the validity of the exam still in question, the state instructed districts to come up with other benchmarks.

Each district said they will be handling the retention criteria a little differently, but final grades and other standardized tests will play a role.

“There’s a little more freedom and professional judgment this year,” said Kay Dailey, who oversees instruction and curriculum for Walton County Schools.

In Walton for example, school officials will consider student performance on the STAR Enterprise Assessment, but in Okaloosa they’ll look at the results of the Discovery Education Assessment.

The validity study of the FSA reading exam should be complete Sept. 1. Individual scores will be released sometime after that.

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Katie Tammen at 850-315-4440 or ktammen@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KatieTnwfdn.

Chance at sewer system grant goes down the drain

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VALPARAISO — A computer glitch recently cost the city a chance at a $90,000 grant to improve its sewer system.

At Monday’s City Commission meeting, Commissioner Kay Hamilton reported that the city had missed its opportunity to promote its grant application before the Okaloosa RESTORE Advisory Committee on June 3 because it failed to send a representative to the committee meeting.

“I had heard from one of my contacts on the committee that our proposal had made it to the finals, and that our chances looked good,” Hamilton said.

She added that the application hadn’t made it clear that the project would prevent sewage from backing up into local waterways, and that the project’s score would probably be increased when that information was received.

Hamilton said she had asked City Administrator Carl Scott to watch for an email from the committee that would inform them of the time of the meeting. But the date for the meeting came and went, and no one from the city attended.

“I was told that the email got caught in the city’s spam filter,” Hamilton said. She added that city officials could have monitored the ORAC’s website for the date and time as well.

Commissioner Heyward Strong, whose purview includes the city’s information technology department, said he had asked the department’s director to look into the problem.

“It’s just a shame, because we had everything lined up until the very end,” he said.

Hamilton expressed her frustration over the loss, and her concern that the oversight by the city may negatively affect its chances with future ORAC grant opportunities. She said she felt obligated to write a letter to the committee on behalf of the city.

“At this point we will use our frustration with this situation as a learning experience to change our protocols regarding City email,” the letter stated. “Again, I can only apologize and assure you that we will address what is a serious deficiency in our communication capabilities.”

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Kelly Humphrey at 850-315-4443 or khumphrey@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @kellyhnwfdn.

15-year-old accused of borrowing road grader, causing havoc

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FORT WALTON BEACH — A 15-year-old Fort Walton Beach boy is facing felony charges after allegedly taking a construction grader and damaging fences and sprinkler systems at the new Fort Walton Beach Recreation Center Sunday evening.

The teen, whose name is being withheld because of his age, got into a Cowin construction grader near the former Hedrick Softball Fields, 134 Jet Drive N.W., and started it, according to the arrest report from Fort Walton Beach Police Department.

He drove the grader around the softball fields. A witness reported that the teen intentionally struck the fences and sprinkler systems, causing at least $8,000 in damage, the reports said.

He is charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle and criminal mischief with damage greater than $1,000, both felonies.

He was released to a relative, according to the report.

The grader was part of the equipment being used in the expansion of the fields as part of the $8 million revamping of the recreation center.

When finished, the fields will accommodate new baseball and softball fields, new soccer fields and new concession stands, among other things.

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Trista Pruett at 850-315-4445 or tpruett@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @TristaPnwfdn.

FWB accepts proposal to lease the YMCA property

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FORT WALTON BEACH — The City Council on Tuesday accepted a proposal from Liza Jackson Preparatory School to take over the YMCA, moving it a step closer to earning a long-term lease.

“Tonight is just to award the RFP,” said City Manager Michael Beedie, who added that he’s working with the school on a lease agreement that he hopes to present at the next council meeting.

About 20 students and parents attended the meeting to see the vote, although none of them spoke.

Before the vote, Jayme Nabors with NBI Properties made a short presentation on some details of the 30-year proposal.

City Councilman Mike Holmes, who made the motion to accept Liza Jackson’s proposal, said he appreciated the school’s commitment.

“I’d like to thank Mr. Nabors and Liza Jackson for stepping up. I think this is going to be a great thing for all involved,” Holmes said.

Liza Jackson plans to open a sixth- through ninth-grade middle school and athletic complex on the property on Hospital Road. It will work with the Emerald Coast Fitness Foundation to revitalize the YMCA’s swimming pool.

School officials have said they plan to rent out the gymnasium and athletic fields to generate revenue.

Liza Jackson has asked for three years of rental abatement to rehabilitate the building. After that, the school would pay $5,000 a month, or $60,000 annually, for the remaining 27 years, Nabors said.

The YMCAs in Fort Walton Beach, Destin and Crestview closed their doors Oct. 10, 2014, amid financial problems.

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Trista Pruett at 850-315-4445 or tpruett@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @TristaPnwfdn.

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