The
vicinity of Alligator Lake all of you are ready for the Spring Please send any and all comments to
Declaring an end to what he's called "the war on The Emerald_Star_News@hotmail.com
between County Highway 283 and Summer months ahead.
coal," President Donald Trump signed an execu-
and County Highway 83. tive order Tuesday that eliminates numerous re- The City Council has voted on a new software agreement which will help with
Motorist and Pedestrians are strictions on fossil fuel production, breaking with upgrading our systems and making the computers easier to navigate. We are currently
encouraged to use alternative leaders across the globe who have embraced working on updating our website and that should be up and running in a couple of
routes during this time. cleaner energy sources. months and it too will be much easier to navigate to help you find information you are
The order makes good on Trump's campaign looking for.
A press release will be sent out
upon the opening of the road and pledge to unravel former President Barack The council has adopted an ordinance for a temporary moratorium of Medical
bike path. Obama's efforts to curb global warming, eliminat- Cannabis and will address at a later date. The council will be holding a workshop on
If you have any questions or ing nearly a dozen measures in an effort to boost March 30, 2017, at 6:00 pm, to discuss the CIP Revisions for adoption for the city and
need additional information; domestic energy production, especially oil, natu- the public is invited to attend in the council chambers. We welcome two new
ral gas and coal. businesses to our business community that being the reopening of Best Friends Pet
please do not hesitate to contact
Environmental activists, including former Vice Doctor and the new Vivid Fitness Studio, the pet doctor is located on Old highway
Walton County Public Works at
President Al Gore, denounced the plan. But 331 just past the People Bank and the Vivid Fitness Studio located in the building
892-8108.
Trump said the effort would spark "a new energy next to JBs Buffet and Bend the Bar Fitness. Another new business opening will take
place with a ribbon cutting on April 8th at 11:00 a.m. for Bootleggers Mercantile
Public Notice: Construction revolution" and lead to "unbelievable" American located beside New-Stalgia on old highway 331. Councilman Eddie Farris and City
prosperity.
to Begin on Walton Bridge
"That is what this is all about: bringing back our Planner Latilda Hughes-Neel are working on plans for extending sidewalks from
Road jobs, bringing back our dreams and making highway 20 up to the Village Apartments just below the high school, we will keep
America wealthy again," Trump said during a you informed as we progress on this project. We are currently in receipt of a grant to
Crews are scheduled to be onsite signing ceremony at the Environmental Protec- acquire the parcel of land next door to city hall for the City Center Barrier Free Park
at Walton Bridge Road on Mon- tion Agency headquarters, where he was flanked and information will be forthcoming on this as well. Dana Weiler and Kasey Cuchens
day March 27, 2017 in conjunc- on stage by more than a dozen coal miners. have been working with Florida Communities Trust-Department of Environmental
tion with the paving and stormwa- Throughout the election, Trump accused the for- Protection to obtain this grant. A report of installation of grinder pumps and the cost
ter improvements project. mer president of waging "a war" against coal as of the pumps has been presented by Councilwoman Janice McLean and the council is
This is a three hundred day con- he campaigned in economically depressed swaths in the process of doing a study to make the correct decision on this project and
tract that has been awarded to of states like West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Councilwoman Elizabeth Brannon has presented to the council legislative information
Roberts and Roberts, Inc. Ohio. out of Tallahassee for this legislative session. Craig Haley has been appointed to the
The limits of the first phase are The miners "told me about the efforts to shut Freeport Recreation Board as a member and we look forward to having his input in
Rock Hill Road north 2.8 miles to down their mines, their communities and their the park matters. A Boy Scout Troop is in the making for Freeport and will soon
very way of life. I made them this promise: We begin their troop and will provide information to those who may be interested in
approximately Doctors Road.
will put our miners back to work," the president joining and they will be meeting in the old city hall building at the end of Madison
Users should expect lane closures th
said. "My administration is putting an end to the Street. The date for the Bayfest has been set and that will be on September 16 and
and delays. the date for the Mayors Ball has been set for October 21 . st
war on coal."
For more information, contact But Trump's promise runs counter to market The annual Easter Eggstravaganza in conjunction with the annual Spring Festival will
Walton County Public Works at forces, including U.S. utilities converting coal- be held on April 15th, beginning at 9:00 am- 3:00 pm, so mark your calendars bring
850-892-8108. fired power plants to cheaper, cleaner-burning the kids and come and enjoy a day filled with arts/crafts and entertainment- Destiny
natural gas. And Democrats, environmental Worship Center is working with the city on the presentation of the 12,0000 eggs
Lets all chip in and make this groups and scientists said the executive order being dropped from the helicopter as well as the drop in of the Easter Bunny, other
CITY GREAT! ignores the realities of climate change. characters will be there throughout the day for the kids enjoyment. Also, the annual
Let people know where you are, "There is much our nation can do to address the Easter Sunrise Service presented by area churches will be held behind the City Hall
what do you sell? risks that climate change poses to human health and more information will be given a little closer to Easter Sunday. Remember any
What do you offer? and safety, but disregarding scientific evidence comments, concerns or questions please give me a call at 850-835-2822.
5000 copies puts our communities in danger," said Rush Holt,
Per Month! chief executive officer of the American Associa-
Unless tion for the Advancement of Science, the nation's
You have largest general scientific society. Emerald Coast flowers & gifts
enough business California Gov. Jerry Brown was more blunt.
and dont want New "Gutting the Clean Power Plan is a colossal mis- & The prissy hen
Customers to stop in? AD! take and defies science itself. Erasing climate 137 Hwy 20 West Freeport
change may take place in Donald Trump's mind,
but nowhere else," Brown said. "check out our weekly Cash & Carry specials!
While Republicans have blamed Obama-era envi-
ronmental regulations for the loss of coal jobs, Store hours are Mon-Fri 10-5 and Sat 10-2.
federal data shows that U.S. mines have been
shedding jobs for decades from natural gas. Owners Russ Barley and Tim Ard, invite everyone to stop on in!
FREEPORT Presbyterian CHURCH, located on Hwy 20. Next to Franks Cash & 850-835-5200 or 850-267-2616
Carry. We are extending an open invitation to come to our quaint little church to give
thanks and praise to God. Small town feel and childrens services also available too.
Sundays at 9am Bible study.10am church service. Come meet Pastor Gene.
Page 6 The EMERALD STAR Thursday, march 30, 2017
The Baytowne Melt is Moving and Expanding
Early Summer 2017 The Baytowne Melt
Will Become Baytowne Provisions
DeFuniak Springs Seeks to
Coming early Summer 2107, The Baytowne Melt will be taking over the
location formerly occupied by Graffiti's Funky Blues Shack. You can
Uncover More History
expect the same delicious melt sandwiches you know and love, along Property Owners Urged to Help Reveal Their Homes Historic Stories April 3
with an expanded menu and a full bar with a beautiful Marina view
from upstairs as well as a market with local goods and take away items. Property owners in the Historic District of DeFuniak Springs are invited by city leaders to a
Sometime this year we will also add a general store with every day special public workshop to learn how to contribute vital information about their historic
necessities and groceries. Stay tuned for details on the store. properties on Monday, April 3, 6pm-8pm at the DeFuniak Springs Community Center, 361
North 10th Street in DeFuniak Springs.
About The Baytowne Melt: Information provided by property owners will be used to update a 1990 Historic Properties
Survey to enhance the records on many homes and structures which are currently on, or need
Mmmmmmmmm is our secret ingredient. The Baytowne Melt offers a
to be added to, the National Registry of Historic Places. The Historic District of DeFuniak
casual and family-friendly environment, serving breakfast at 8 a.m., Springs attracts thousands of visitors annually for Christmas Reflections in December, Snow-
lunch at 11:00 and throughout the day, and happy hour 46 p.m. We
bird Day and the Florida Chautauqua Assembly in January, GrasFest in February, LakeFest
have large selection of craft beers and wine, and gluten-free and
(festival) in May, Independence Day Celebration in July, as well as numerous other public
vegetarian options. The space is available for birthdays or special
activities throughout the year. The popularity of our Historic District for all of these events,
events. The Baytowne Melt is located north of Sandestin in the Village
says Mayor Bob Campbell, is rooted in the beauty of the spectacular homes and structures
of Baytowne Wharf across from the playground overlooking the lagoon. built collectively during the Victorian era and on the outer banks of our perfectly round
spring-fed lake.
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION The Historic District of DeFuniak Springs is comprised mostly of an old campus built for the
annual historic Florida Chautauqua Assemblies which lasted from 1885 to 1927. The campus
Kindergarten registration for the 2017-18 school year will be held at all was a planned community surrounding Lake DeFuniak which included a train depot, glorious
Walton County elementary schools during weekdays from Monday, April hotel, lecture halls, a library, art department, churches, and plotted properties for homeown-
17th, 2017 to Friday, April 28th, 2017 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and ers within the gated grounds. An association called the Florida Chautauqua Association
2:30 p.m. To be eligible to enter Kindergarten, a child must be five (5) years maintained the grounds and designed the annual multi-week assembly season attracting
of age on or before September 1, 2017. visitors for one-week long stays.
An official proof of birth is required at the time of registration. Hospital Leaders marketed the campus as The Education Resort of the South and the assemblies as
certificates are NOT official birth records. Parents who do not have their The Florida Chautauqua: Winter Assembly in the Land of Summer. The resort attracted
childs birth certificate can obtain a certified copy by making a request to the tens of thousands of tourists annually to see, hear and possibly meet such notable speakers as
state in which the child was born. Ohio Governor William McKinley (before he became president,) Woodrow Wilsons vice
Because this is often a lengthy process, parents needing to obtain a certificate president Thomas Marshal, famous American orator and politician William Jennings Bryan,
are urged to do so now in order to receive it prior to this registration period. American Red Cross founder Clara Barton, Battle Hymn of the Republic author Julia Ward
Children born in the state of Florida may obtain an official birth certificate at Howe and Franklin D. Roosevelts Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels, not to mention
the Walton County Public Health Unit, 362 State Highway 83, DeFuniak attend classes or sessions divided into categories (aka pillars) of art, education, recreation and
Springs. religion.
Before entering school in August, each kindergarten child must have the fol- Although records show that the assemblies ended in 1927 and that the Association had
lowing: dissolved around 1935 and sold most of the main buildings to the City by that time, many of
official birth certificate (required for registration) the Victorian-era structures and original homes on the grounds still stand. Some of these
structures are on the National Register of Historic Places.
social security number * City officials last conducted a historic survey of the properties in the Historic District in
health examination** 1990, and the scanned PDF version can be viewed at www.defuniaksprings.net, the Citys
official website. However, local citizens recently requested that the 27-year-old survey be
current immunization record (DOH 680)** updated and to include newly acquired information.
In 2016, DeFuniak Springs resident Bob McKnight, PhD, authored and secured a state grant
Youve tried the REST, NOW CALL THE on behalf of the City from the Florida Division of Historical Resources which enabled the
City to hire professionals from NW Florida Regional Planning Council to design a new
BEST! Solid 30+ exp.. Solid Crew, Reliable database survey, collect copies of historic photos and documents relating to each structure in
the historic district, and to provide a way for property owners to submit new information.
The workshop is designed to unveil the database and the information needed from each par-
ticipating property owner. Architects, local historians, survey experts, a representative of the
Walton County Clerk of the Courts office and historic property preservationists will be on
hand to answer questions and guide other homeowners on what is needed to help update the
Citys historic properties records for a new electronic survey.
Questions about the workshop can be directed to Grant Administrator Christopher Mitchell at
Www.ajsplumbinginc@embarqmail.com (850) 892-8500, ext. 234, grants@defuniaksprings.net
Thursday, March 30, 2017 The EMERALD STAR NEWS Inc. Page 7
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BOATHOUSE IN BLACK CREEK LODGE!
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High Ceilings, FP & Wood Flooring. MBR features a balcony & Canal. Dock w/view of Black Creek. Open Living Rm & Kitchen.
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Rm, Bedroom, Bath & Full Kitchen. Ideal for guests or as an fantastic for making years of great fishing memories! Ideal for a
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+++++++ We Thank the Lord ++++++for giving us this day alive. For all our friends, family and community.
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Letter to the:
TAX DEADLINE APPROACHING
DFS CITY COUNCIL APPROVED
Walton County Tax Collector Rhonda Skipper is reminding citizens NEW CODE ENFORCEMENT
Dear editor,
As a long standing resident in Freeport.
March 31 is the deadline to pay property taxes without penalty. To MEASURES
ensure your payment is received on time, please remember in person
I wonder if the Council truly has the
payments must be received in the office by 4:30 p.m., mailed in The DeFuniak Springs City Council approved news code
citizen who pay their wage has the best
payments must be postmarked by the deadline date, and online enforcement measures at their regular meeting.
interest of the older folks here?
payments made before midnight will be credited the March Council members heard a report from Code Enforcement
As we age into our later years we see so
amount. Officer Dusty Beck and authorized code enforcement
much drastic changes to our daily
Accounts delinquent as of April 1, will require payment in certified violations of up to $500 a day per violation in an effort to
environment as of late. U.S. funds in the form of a money order, cashiers check or cash.
Such as when we purchased our homes clean up the city and rid it of blight. The measure passed
Personal checks cannot be accepted for delinquent accounts and will unanimously.
in the 60s we still are infringed upon by
be returned. This is something that Freeport should also look into
new people to our area taking it upon
I encourage taxpayers to take the time before the March 31 st enforcing for the Code enforcement lacks enforcing
themselves to create such a nuisance that
deadline to make sure your taxes have been paid. Each year I have violators unless someone actually calls to complain.
many of us search for help to address
citizens who come after the deadline asking for penalties to be
and halt! We dont get to live our last removed, said Skipper. Unfortunately, the office is unable to do Which only instigates the violators to retaliate against the
days in the same peace as we once lived. person(s) who called. Why dont they take it upon them-
that. To verify your taxes have been paid, please visit our website
We bought our homes, retire, vote and selves to their job as they drive throughout the county and
where you can view your account and payment history, or give us a
yet no one supports our request to limit approach it as is? They drive in tax dollar paid new
call.
these selfish rude neighbors who come vehicles, yet the citizens suffer from commercial identities
All accounts unpaid as of April 1 are assessed a 3 percent penalty.
to invade our area. What can we do? My taking place within residential plotted lands? Fact.
Unpaid real estate accounts as of May 1 are assessed a 3 percent
husband would have been in jail years penalty, plus advertising fee and tangible accounts are assessed a 1.5 Code enforcement sees the violations but will not address
ago if he were alive to defend our sanc- any issue unless a formal complaint is made. That imposes
percent penalty, plus advertising fee. These properties are then ad-
tity of peace we once lived in. neighbor-vs-neighbor, which they have seen many times
vertised in the paper as required by law. If still unpaid by May 31,
I am hoping that many of my old school before over the past several years. Some even leading to
these properties are included in an online Tax Certificate Sale on
friends who are still around to stand up folks having to sell homes at a discouraging amount just to
June 1.
to the machine of so-called progress During the Tax Certificate Sale, investors bid to purchase the tax avoid the harassment from the violators. Others to be jailed
within this county, especially around for handling the situation themselves for the Code Dept.
certificates issued on certain delinquent properties. The winning
Freeport. does little to nothing to end the discrepancy, if at all.
bidder on each property immediately pays the owed taxes and
Are we just expected to fade away and In other action, the council authorized grant writer
receives his or her money back, with interest, once the property
die off inside a home for elders because Christopher Mitchell to proceed with applying for a $50K
owner pays his or her taxes.
we cannot care for our homes as once grant for historical information panels for the city. The
If you are unsure of the payment status of your tax accounts, please
did when spouse was alive? This is get- visit WaltonTaxCollector.com and click on the Search the Tax panels would be installed at various points of interests and
ting ridiculous. provide the public with information on relative unique
Roll tab. The search feature is easy to use and you can quickly pull
I hope many people will continue to call landmarks.
up your account (s) to see if they are paid.
in to Dept.s until our rights are heard. Council members also voted to waive the facility fee for
Not all of us have transportation to make the Pierce Family Children's Advocacy Center for a
For more information, please contact the Tax Collectors Office at
those meetings. provider funded fair at the community center on May 23rd.
(850) 892-8121
I had my G-daughter send this to you for However, local resident Cathy Mosley made the generous
I dont know how to use a computer. The offer to pay the fee personally. The council and the center
amount of influx in Freeport may be expressed their appreciation to Miss Mosley for her
good for income to County, but what generosity.
about us citizens who were hear long We could use more people to help call on violations within
before this so-called Gold rush to the the County. Whether it be in city limits, the County has
beaches? laws on the books to prevent citizens moving into home
Bothered daily, Ms. S. Hampton areas creating a nuisance of a business that interferes with
sanctity of peace designed by plotting a residential
neighborhood.
With the shear number of complaints made and the viola-
tors just dancing cat and mouse across this county. Even
the state has Laws to prevent such activity, check them.