Bow Wow Bash a Smash
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Florida Seafood Festival celebrates XXXXX ‘a way of life’ , B1 XXXXXX THEYOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1937 YEAR 75, NUMBER 3 TAR Thursday, NOVEMBER 1, 2012 ForS breaking news, visit www.starfl.com 50¢ BOCC puts in claim on lighthouse By TIM CROFT INSIDE | A11 danger because of coastal ero- at Salinas Park.” located on the cape and he has 227-7827 |@PSJ_Star sion. The Air Force approached Yeager said Butler had looked constituents within the city that tcroft@starfl .com Commissioners erupt over PAC Port St. Joe early this year about over the paperwork for Salinas want the lighthouse moved to the the city’s interest in the property. Park and found the lighthouse ap- city to become part of a bayfront The Gulf County Board Coun- County Commissioner Warren propriate for that location. park. ty Commissioners has begun the and oil house. Yeager said a committee of resi- And, he added, he had been “Our No. 1 goal is to preserve process of acquiring the Cape San After Eglin Air Force Base de- dents of St. Joseph Peninsula and approached by someone willing it,” Yeager said. “I personally Blas Lighthouse with an eye to- clared the lighthouse and prop- Cape San Blas was moving ahead to make “a sizeable donation” to don’t have a preference, but I ward relocation to Salinas Park. erty surplus earlier this year, on planning for relocation to Sali- the effort to move the lighthouse have constituents who have dif- County Administrator Don the Department of Interior was nas Park. to Salinas Park. ferent opinions. These are the Butler said he had initiated the charged with disposition to an ap- “We have insurance numbers,” Yeager said he is caught in kind of decisions you have to lengthy application process with propriate party for the purposes Yeager said. “What we’re still something of a dilemma. He has make in this offi ce. Department of Interior to acquire of creating a public park. looking at is the exact number to constituents on the cape that the lighthouse, keepers’ quarters The lighthouse and land is in move the lighthouse and place it want the lighthouse to remain See LIGHTHOUSE A10 PHOTOS BY DEBBIE HOOPER | JoeBay.com Investigation: Former chief hired felons quote and family quote id BY CHRIS OLWELL quote name 747-5079 | @PCNHchriso [email protected] MEXICO BEACH — Three uncertifi ed convicted felons with close ties to former Mexico Beach Fire Depart- ment Chief Brad Hall were hired without drug tests or background checks, a recent Bay County Sher- iff’s Offi ce investigation revealed. They aren’t the only members of the volun- teer fi re department with ties to Hall, who retired recently after months on paid administrative leave during simultaneous in- vestigations by the Florida Department of Law En- JUMP —— From Page 6A forcement and the Bay County Sheriff’s Offi ce; Bow Wow Hall also gave his wife a job. They have been tied to numerous fi re department responses that raised the suspicions of city offi cials, Bash a smash but investigators were un- able to sustain allegations Star Staff Report event for the organization, which that fi refi ghters falsifi ed relies on fundraising and donations their time sheets and were The seventh annual Bow to keep the doors open. paid for responses to fi cti- Wow Bash masquerade “We rely almost exclusively on tious calls. party held Saturday at this fundraiser and donations to Levi Wilson, a convicted the Centennial Building fund our operations,” said Humane felon, may have had access was once again a success, Society board member Sandi Christy. to confi dential law enforce- From page 6A with 255 guests and an “The funding we get from the county ment databases when he estimated $30,000 or more and (City of Port St. Joe) is about 20 would fi ll in for Cpl. Debo- raised for the St. Joseph percent of what it costs to operate rah Everett, who was often Bay Humane Society. the Humane Society for the year.” late to work before she was The Bow Wow Bash Proceeds from the event also go terminated as a result of is the Humane Society’s toward funding for an annual free the BCSO investigation. biggest fundraiser of the spay and neuter program for Gulf Because all members of year, and is an essential County pet owners. the department used the same password to access the databases, making it impossible to determine who was actually access- ing the databases, BCSO Witness calls State Attorney investigation ‘silliness’ investigators could not sustain this allegation By TIM CROFT re-election campaign with allega- to discuss the investigation and Public Information Offi cer David either. 227-7827 |@PSJ_Star tions including complaint with the actions by the PAC. Angier. A response on July 4 tcroft@starfl .com Florida Commission on Ethics. The allegations of “blackmail” Angier reported Friday morn- was an example of many That investigation went public as Williams termed it during the ing that the fi le was closed and questionable responses Had Tom Graney of St. Joe Thursday morning during a meet- Commission meeting, and “extor- submitted a letter dated Oct. 16 by the Mexico Beach Fire Beach known what two men iden- ing of the Board of County Com- tion” as it was called in an Oct. 16 from Hess to Florida Department Department, according tifying themselves as investiga- missioners when Port St. Joe res- letter from State Attorney Glenn of Law Enforcement agent Mat- to an email from Mexico tors were inquiring about in early ident Christine McElroy said she Hess, apparently originated with thew Herring telling him to close Beach City Administrator summer he would have told them had cooperated in the investiga- a conversation Graney had with the fi le. He said staff was trying to Chris Hubbard. It shows, to “buzz off.” tion and Commission Chairman Williams in the spring before Wil- locate the fi le. Hubbard wrote, “how the The State Attorney’s Offi ce Bill Williams stated several times liams decided not to seek re-elec- By early Friday afternoon, An- fi re department person- opened an investigation earlier that he had worn a wire during tion to the District 3 seat. gier said the investigation was nel generate their own this year into allegations that the the investigation. Graney’s is the only name open again, based on informa- calls in order to increase Political Action Committee Citi- McElroy was waved to the po- mentioned in Hess’s letter which tion received since Thursday’s their paychecks from zens Improving Gulf County had dium by commissioners during closed the case, which was sub- meeting. the city.” attempted to extort County Com- the public comment portion of the sequently reopened following Subscribe A Freedom Newspaper missioner Warren Yeager from a meeting and immediately began Thursday’sINDEX meeting, according to See ‘SILLINESS’ A8 See CHIEF A3 xxxx Opinions 4A Obituaries 4B Legals 11B to The Star Real Estate Advertising Deadline Thursday 11:00 am ET xxxxxxx Letters to the Editor 5A Church News 5B Classifieds 12-13B TABLE OF CONTENTS Display Advertising Deadline Real Estate Ad deadline is Thursday 11 Fridaya.m. ET11:00 am ET 1B SubscribeSports to The Star 10A Law Enforcement 8B Trades & Services 14B Call 227-1278 Opinion . A4-A5 School News . B3 Legal ad deadline is Friday 11 a.m. ET227-1278 800-345-8688Society News 2-3B LettersSchool to the News Editor . .10B . A5 Faith . B4 For your hometown paper DisplayFor yourad deadline is Friday 11 a.m.Classified ET 227-1278 Line-Advertising Deadline Outdoors . .A15 Obituaries . B4 Monday 5:00 pm ET delivered to your home! hometownClassifi ed deadline paper is Monday 5 p.m. ET 747-5020 Sports . .A14 Classifi eds . B10-B12 VISIT THE STAR ONLINE AT WWW.STARFL.COM delivered to your home! 747-5020 A2 | The Star Local Thursday, November 1, 2012 Pd.Pol.Ad. Dear Gulf County Voters: For the past 4 years John Hanlon has served by my side as my Assistant Supervisor of Elections. He has been the most dedicated and dependable assistant a person could wish for. He has the fire in his gut for elections and that’s what it takes to work in this field. John Hanlon Ken Detzner Linda Griffin Assistant Supervisor Florida Secretary of State Gulf County Supervisor of Elections (Chief Election Official of Florida) of Elections In January, when I retire, I know the office will be in good hands if you electJohn Hanlon for your next Supervisor of Elections. The transition will be smooth because John Hanlon has been my Assistant Supervisor and knows every aspect of the office and our needs. The elections world has changed dramatically over the past several years and it is extremely important that the person at the helm for Gulf County be one with the experience and knowledge needed. John Hanlon has the capabilities to build upon the reputation Gulf County has for having a non-partisan office that strives to serve our voters with the utmost integrity and for conducting good and fair elections run with honesty and integrity. I am honored and humbled that you have allowed me to serve as your Supervisor of Elections these past 12 years and I thank you for your support from the bottom of my heart. Please join me and vote for John Hanlon for Supervisor of Elections on November 6th. God Bless you all and God bless America. Linda Griffin Supervisor of Elections, Gulf County It has been my pleasure serving as your Assistant Supervisor of Elections.