Murder/Suicide Investigation Ongoing
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imesHOLMES COUNTY MINDDRIVE T visits WHTC on Coast-to-Coast dvertiser Tour | A8 Wednesday,A JUNE 27, 2012 www.bonifaynow.com Volume 122, N u m b e r 1 1 50¢ For the latest breaking news, visit Murder/suicide investigation ongoing BONIFAYNOW.COM CECILIA SPEARS “The autopsies are done but the 547-9414 | @WCN_HCT IN BRIEF [email protected] reports have yet to be finalized. Church slates BONIFAY — The investi- The toxicology report won’t be back candidate forums gation is still ongoing in the in for quite sometime.” WESTVILLE — West recent tragedy that left two Pittman Baptist Church dead at 2707 Tup McWaters will hold two more Road in Bonifay on Thurs- Holmes County Sheriff’s Capt. Harry Hamilton candidate forums day, according to Holmes with Holmes County County Sheriff’s Capt. Har- “The autopsies are done quite sometime.” candidates at the church ry Hamilton. but the reports have yet According to Hamil- at 1603 Bradley Rd. in Found dead early Thurs- to be finalized,” Hamilton ton, as of now it’s apparent ANDREW WARDLOW | The News Herald Westville. The forums day morning were Billy Ray said. “The toxicology re- are open to the public. Coatney, 47, and his wife, Billy Ray and Tammie Coatney were found dead in this port won’t be back in for The first forum was Tammie Renae Coatney, 41. See INVESTIGATION A2 house on Tup McWaters Road in Bonifay. Saturday and featured candidates for clerk of court and sheriff. The second fourm is July 7 and will include Lawsuit: candidates for property appraiser, tax collector, superintendent of school WatERMELON and school soard. On City must July 28, the final forum will include candidates for the Board of County Commissioners and turn over state representative. For information, call sweethearts Pastor Eddie Eaton at transcripts 956-4100 or 527-3995 (cell). By ALI HELGOTH Smyrna School 522-5118 | @AHelgoth reunion [email protected] BONIFAY — Former CHIPLEY – The Wash- students and friends ington County News won a who attended Smyrna legal victory Tuesday when Country School will meet Vernon was given 10 days to at 11 a.m. on Saturday turn over a transcript of an at Simbo’s, which is now April executive session. Scott Thompson’s Town Circuit Court Judge House. He is setting up a Chris Patterson ruled the buffet just for us at noon. city violated the state’s Sun- shine Laws during the exec- utive session held on April Registration for 23 to update new city council Bonifay Bulldogs members and the mayor on pending litigation. Peewee Football “The bottom line is the BONIFAY — The whole purpose of govern- Bonifay Bulldogs Pee ing in the sunshine is so the Wee Football Association public knows what is hap- is a non-profit pening with their governing organization. Our mission officials,” Patterson said. is to provide the youth PHOTO BY RANDAL SEYLER | Times-Advertiser Although elected officials in our area a positive Miss Holmes County Keltcee Berry and Little Miss Holmes County Harley Owens ride in the 56th are allowed to go into execu- and safe football and annual Panhandle Watermelon Festival parade on Saturday in Chipley. The annual two-day tive session for the reason cheerleading experience event drew thousands to Washington County over the weekend in spite of threatening weather. cited by the city’s attorney that develops their For more photos see Page 1B and visit www.bonifaynow.com. Kerry Adkison, the law out- individual skills, physical lines strict regulations for how the session must begin, See IN BRIEF A2 and it requires the govern- ing body to reconvene in public and formally end the Auditor: Bonifay in good finances, improving executive session. INDEX Randal Seyler, manag- Arrests ................................. A3 CECILIA SPEARS them to mature. work going on to the water lines.” ing editor of the Washing- Opinion ................................ A4 547-9414 | @WCNHCT “This gives you a chance to actu- The council approved to recent ton County News, testified ally be able to wait until they come to their contract bid to Royal American Outdoors .............................. A6 [email protected] he doesn’t know whether full maturity so that you can receive Construction for the CDBG Water the meeting ever actually Sports .................................. A7 BONIFAY — City Auditor Hilton full benefits of the investment,” said System Improvements project due to ended. Extra .................................... B1 Galloway of CRI gave the City of Boni- Galloway. “It helps that you’ve re- previous complications in the bidding Patterson said he was Faith .................................... B4 fay a positive report on Monday, in- ceived more money in grants than in process. moved by that statement, Obituaries ............................ B5 forming the council that the city is in payouts and you have no violations When the bids were first placed, and asked rhetorically if the Classifieds ............................ B7 good financial standing and is looking in grant compliance. I can’t say that Gulf Coast Utility Contractors was the meeting was ongoing. to improve over the next year, if not the city is completely healthy, but its lowest bidder and would be the obvi- The Sunshine Laws also longer. one of the few cities that can say they ous bid for Bonifay, but a last minute require a transcript of the “The city has got the huge ben- aren’t in a state of deteriorating finan- adjustment made Royal American meeting be filed within a efit of a lot of grant revenue for city cial condition.” Construction the lowest bidder. Af- reasonable amount of time. improvements,” said Galloway. “Not Galloway said the only concern ter much discussion Royal American The transcript becomes Phone: 850-547-9414 to mention you should be set for the was that the funds they were receiv- Construction was approved of as the public after the pending liti- Web site: bonifaynow.com next 40 to 50 years with the new sewer ing for water and sewer was only at 71 lowest bidder. gation ends. The city has not Fax: 850-547-9418 treatment plant as well as money percent, when it should be at least at The city was then met with re- filed a transcript. saved from the cost of repairs to the 90 percent. taliation from Golf Coast Utility Con- Patterson said he had to water and sewer lines.” “We won’t know what’s causing that tractors, who threatened to begin strictly interpret the state’s Galloway also praised the coun- for sure until the new sewer treatment a bid protest pursuant to Florida open meeting law, and based cil on their wise and sound financial plant and system is complete,” said Administrative Rule 28-110.003 and on evidence presented the investments through government Galloway. “For all we know it might bonds with more then five years on be contributed by the continual repair See AUDITOR A2 See LAWSUIT A2 Connect With Us 24/7 Get breaking news, videos, expanded stories, photo galleries, opinions and more... And Mobile Too bonifaynow.com @WCN_HCT A2 | Holmes County Times-Advertiser Local Wednesday, June 27, 2012 INVESTIGATION from page A1 AUDITOR from page A1 Florida Statutes Section Council member Roger 120.57. Brooks first motioned that City Attorney Lucas Tay- the police chief remove the lor advised that the council goats and then he rescinded rescind the bid, reject all the vote to request that the other bids and then rebid attorney look into a nui- the project, which the grant sance ordinance they could allowed. enforce. For the cost of $2,000 the Brooks also requested Council approved to reject that Varner Street be re- all bids and then re-bid the paired because it was “sink- project at no cost to those ing in the middle.” who’ve already placed their David and Vicky Guthrie bid to the project once again of Healing Palms Hyperbar- that Coatney, 47, shot and and giving new bidders 14 ics requested reprieve from killed his wife, 41-year-old days to place their bids, put- the city for the impact fees Tammie Renae Coatney, ting the end date at July 13. billed to them, which was and then shot and killed A Bonifay resident came $900 for water tap and hook- himself. in complaining about his up fees and $1,800 impact Authorities reported neighbor’s goats. fee for sewer. that a juvenile witnessed “What with the hot sum- The owners attributed the murder-suicide. mer weather coming and their inability to pay to the Records from the Hol- there’s these goats with all poor financial situation mes County Courthouse their feces in the back yard they’ve found themselves in do not reveal a history of ANDREW WaRDLOW | The News Herald and their natural goat smell due to lack of revenue and domestic violence and fam- Law enforcement officers work the scene where two people were shot and the odor alone is unbear- offered to pay the $900 for ily and neighbors described killed in Holmes County on Thursday. able,” he said. “If she’s al- the water tap and hook-up. the couple to be “quiet” and lowed to keep goats I should The council approved “easy going.” the boy; his mom and dad are late wife knew them well. Christ in Caryville, with be allowed to have a cow waiving the sewer impact Facebook condolences both gone. Right now he’s A resident of the area the Rev. Edward Williams to eat my grass, give me fees for two years and then flooded onto the wall of surrounded by people try- for 33 years, Albury said officiating. Interment fol- milk and pull me around in bill them $900 a year for Tammie Coatney’s children ing to show him some he has seen the neighbor- lowed in the Caryville my wheelchair.