DeFuniak Springs Herald - The Beach Breeze
H E A D L I N E S
Walton County leads state in marijuana eradication - 12A
Lottery prioritizes land-use change requests - 1C
DFS City Council approves apartment complex on Shoemaker Drive - 1A
Biologist speaks on coastal bio-diversity - 1C
Taking stock of the "Rally in Tally" - 1A
Coastal Branch Library hosts Easter egg hunt - 4C
The 2007 Seabreeze Jazz Fest takes place April 13 - 8A
Crimestoppers offer rewards for information - 13A
"Firehouse Dog" movie review - 4C
WCSB banking on referendum election - 1A
Relay For Life of DFS schedules events -3A
Editorial- Selective Shock Treatment - 4A
Adkinson elected as city marshall
DeFuniak Springs held its city elections on Tuesday, April 10. Only two positions drew challengers. Mike Adkinson Jr. had been appointed to serve the rest of the term as city marshall, following the resignation of Ray Burgess. On Tuesday, his leadership style was affirmed by the voters and Adkinson was elected for the first time. Adkinson drew 527 votes, compared to 264 votes for Johnny Grantham, a former DeFuniak Springs Police officer and current sheriff's deputy.
For Council Seat District 5, incumbent Roy McLeod maintained a lead, but will face Wayne E. Graham in a run-off election. The third candidate, John Hinson, drew 194 votes. The run-off will be held on April 17.
Voters agreed to extend terms of office from two years up to four, but decided the city clerk should remain an elected, not appointed, position.
Mayor Harold Carpenter was returned to office unopposed. Henry Ennis was elected unopposed as councilman for District 2, after incumbent Mark Anderson decided not to seek re-election.
The power to light the world
By RON KELLEY
Walter Owens doesn't look like a man who could change the world.
He doesn't resemble Ben Franklin, Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein or even Bill Gates.
Yet, if what Walter Owens says is true, his name might be added to that pantheon of inventors.
If Walter Owens has his way, America might again bring light to the world.
Owens, a retired electrical engineer, has invented a power generator system that actually creates it's own fuel source - static electricity.
Owens says the machine can provide a complete power source for homes, businesses, planes trains and automobiles.
In fact, Owens says the applications are nearly limitless, but that's not what is important. What's important is that others are saying it, too.
The machine (Owens' small, test-model) has been tested and examined by independent electric motor experts and the results were noted in a report signed by Higinio Rodriguez, president of Gulf Coast Electric Motor Service, Inc. in Pensacola.
According to the report, the machine requires 24 volts to start the motor and only 12 volts to start the static charge.
However, it takes no amps or watts to supply the static charge.
The reports says "How long will it run and at what loss of volts and amps? No loss - indefinitely running."
Owen's self-sustaining machine produced over 4,600 watts and required no coal, oil, gas or liquid fuel and produced no pollution and no waste by-products.
By nearly anyone's standards, that qualifies as revolutionary to the point of science fiction fantasy.
Yet, Walter Owens doesn't look like someone out of a Isaac Asimov novel or some character that Robert Heinlein dreamed into existence.
Owens brought his working model to the Herald office in the back of his pick-up truck and gave a demonstration for Herald staff and WMBB-TV 13 reporter Chris Mitchell, who broadcast a report on Owens and his generator on Monday evening.
That machine, he said, could supply power to three individual homes - indefinitely.
One might assume that Owens will become fabulously wealthy and, if his generator is as efficient as it appears, that will undoubtedly occur.
However, that's the other interesting twist to this unusual tale. Owens isn't looking for mere wealth.
"I'm 84 years old and the money doesn't make any difference to me.
I was contacted by a firm in California that offered to pay me $2 million for exclusive rights," said Owens.
"But I refused. I don't want any one company to have the technology.
They'll just bury it." Instead, Owens hopes to sell his invention to a large array of individual companies and manufacturers. That way, he says, his generator can find its way into the hands of ordinary citizens.
Inventer Walter Owens with his perpetual generator. (Photo by Ron Kelley)
As for the $2 million he was already offered, Owens chuckled and said, "My wife said, 'Walt, what's wrong with you?' I said, 'Well, the good Lord told me not to take it.' And that's just the way I feel about it."
Owens' machine cost about $20,000 to build because of trial and error and the fact that some parts were designed and tooled specifically for this machine.
However, he noted that before the system is mass produced, it will be re-worked and streamlined, which will greatly reduce the production costs of individual systems.
The report by Gulf Coast Electric Motor Service noted that "power output can be significantly increased by reduction of flywheel weight and other system improvements via a research and development program."
Owens said he's gone as far as he can go with this new system, now it's up to the independent manufacturers to build and market the system so that everyone has access to this efficient, inexpensive power source.
"The 'big people' in this country has taken advantage of the little man through oil and power," said Owens. "My power bill last month was $210.74.
To me, that's outrageous - for a common man to have to pay that kind of money for electricity.
This is built for the poor man, the common man.
He's going to get the benefit of it."
Despite Owens' best intentions, the success of his system could eventually cost the jobs of thousands of traditional power company employees and industry suppliers.
Owens disagreed.
Owens said jobs will be created as his generator system is applied to existing technology - from transportation to housing.
The size of the generator will also vary, depending on its application.
He says that jobs in power company field and other related industries would remain viable as his system must be installed and monitored.
"This thing here can put millions back to work and give them a decent job and it won't tear the hearts out of the men that have to provide the end materials," he said.
He said he's looking for about 25 or 30 American and international companies that are interested in building and marketing the system.
Since the WMBB broadcast Monday, Owens said he's been contacted by a Canadian firm with plants in the U.S.
"Well," he said, "it looks like we've got the ball rolling now."
To find out more about Walter Owens and his unique power generator system, call (334) 858-3308 or 858-3721.
Injured man found in Freeport
By BRUCE COLLIER
The Walton County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) responded to a call of suspicious circumstances on the morning Monday, April 9.
At around 9:30 a.m., local residents Billy Martin and Caprice Caliendo found a white male, approximately 50 years old, near the Cotton Produce stand on U.S. 331 South.
The man was lying under a tarpaulin, and was not wearing pants.
Caliendo said he was "shaking like a leaf," and appeared to be bruised.
Deputies described his condition as "seriously injured," from cuts on his face and hand.
WCSO deputies had been in the area since 8 a.m., investigating a pool of blood outside the Bank Trust building in Freeport.
The bank is separated from the
produce stand area by a fence.
The man was airlifted to Sacred Heart.
Investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is in progress, and the WCSO is treating the case as a criminal investigation.
Persons with any information about this incident are asked to call WCSO at 892-8186 and ask to speak with an on-duty investigator.
Chris Mitchell of WMBB-TV Channel 13 provided some of the material for this story.
What to do about seawalls?
By DOTTY NIST
"I don't think anyone really got a kick out of building those seawalls," said local engineer Terry Anderson.
He designed a number of the structures
in Walton County after Hurricane Dennis severely impacted local beaches in 2005.
Anderson estimated that beachfront property owners in Walton County paid close to $70 million on coastal armoring to protect their homes.
About 60 citizens attended a special Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) meeting devoted to coastal armoring last week.
The session lasted more than four hours and it was apparent that much disagreement still exists in the community about seawalls.
Judging from public input, some think of these structures as a saving grace, some as a necessary evil, and some as a blight and a curse.
Pat Blackshear, county planning and development services director, explained that the April 3 meeting was called so that county staff could get BCC guidance on composing "compliance letters."
The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has been requesting these letters in order to review property owners' applications for permanent coastal armoring, including seawalls.
During several months after Hurricane Dennis hit the Gulf Coast, and under an emergency order, Walton County issued over 250 permits for the construction of temporary armoring so that beachfront property owners could shore up their homes.
Under normal, non-emergency circumstances, DEP and not the county has jurisdiction over construction activities on the beach forward of the coastal construction control line.
The emergency county permits stated that, in order to leave the seawall or other armoring in place permanently, a state permit would be required.
At the time of the 2005 emergency order, county staff's interpretation of the Walton County Land Development Code was that coastal armoring was not permitted.
The only circumstance in which seawall construction would be allowed was under emergency authorization.
Information provided by county consultants at the April 3 special meeting casts doubt on that previous interpretation of county code.
Property owners were required to apply for state coastal armoring permits within 60 days of finishing the construction of their seawalls or other armoring structures.
Over a year and a half later, the state has issued permits for only a handful of armoring structures.
According to the latest knowledge of county planners at last week's meeting, there had been only five such approvals and a couple of denials.
All other applications are said to be still pending with the state.
Since the county land development code addresses activities connected with erosion on the beach, the state requires "compliance letters" from Walton County stating whether a coastal armoring structure complies with county code.
These letters are a requirement in order for a state coastal armoring application to be processed.
Due to coastal armoring structures having been approved as part of an emergency order, Walton County has provided some letters indicating that structures do comply with county code.
County legal counsel Mike Burke estimated that the county had issued "80 or so" such letters, and that approximately 40 armoring applications were now awaiting accompanying county letters.
Blackshear noted that county staff members have struggled with writing these letters due to the fact that county code indicates that structures causing erosion cannot be permitted.
She said that recent new requests for armoring that are not part of the emergency order have been a particular concern.
"We decided we needed some good legal guidance,"
Blackshear said. She explained that outside legal counsel Harry Chiles was enlisted for a review of county code relevant to these concerns.
Chiles announced that, after a review of applicable sections of the Walton County Comprehensive Plan and land development code, he had reached the conclusion that seawalls are not prohibited in Walton County.
In fact, some types of armoring are "warranted in some instances," he said.
Chiles called coastal armoring "not as much a legal
as a technical issue," based on the amount of impact
that will result, including erosion on the dune system
and adjacent property, restriction of beach endangered
species movement, and loss of beach vegetation.
Chiles recommended that structures be evaluated on a "case-by-case basis," with county staff reviewing potential endangered species and vegetation impacts.
He also recommended the enlistment of coastal scientist Dr. Bob Dean to determine potential erosion impacts.
It was Chiles' opinion that the county code requires a major county development order "hand in hand" with the state approval process for coastal armoring structures.
He added that he thinks staff will recommend a modification to a minor development order for seawalls or other coastal armoring.
Dean noted that coastal armoring has been widely studied nationally and internationally.
On beaches where coastal erosion exists, such as those in Walton County, armoring causes "additional stress" in areas adjacent to armored areas.
The amount of erosion on adjacent areas increases based on the length of the armoring structure, the erosional stress occuring during high water conditions and increased wave activity accompanying storm surges, he explained.
"Each seawall is unique," Dean said, adding that each requires case by case evaluation.
"All seawalls are going to cause some impact...it's a matter of degree," he said.
Dean said that design factors, including placement of the structure as far landward as possible, can moderate those impacts, along with covering the seawall with sand.
A sand covering on the structure provides "a reservoir of sand" to counter erosion on neighboring property, he explained.
"Beach nourishment is going to be the ultimate answer," Dean concluded.
Plans for beach nourishment along over 12 miles of critically-eroded county beaches along CR-30A are being pursued by Walton County.
The process is a lengthy one. A five-mile-long beach nourishment process on the west end of the county was recently concluded.
Chiles suggested amending the county code to require property owners to ensure that seawalls remain covered with sand.
Representing beachfront property owners on Winston Lane in Inlet Beach, attorney William Hyde called the proposed county review process "unnecessary," "contrary to your past procedure," and "a duplicative local planning process."
"DEP already handles the process well," Hyde concluded.
Attorney Patrick Krechowski agreed, adding that the temporary armoring permits issued by the county did not reference any requirement for approval by anyone other than DEP in order for the armoring to become permanent.
Other attendees objected to Dean being set up as the sole "seawall czar" to rule on their structures.
Burke responded that it would be possible to challenge a decision by Dean in a variance procedure.
Bob Dobes, a homeowner in Old Seagrove, had a different set of concerns.
He understood from Dean's presentation that erosional effects would increase with the length of seawalls.
He was concerned about potential risks to the coastal dune lakes and local state parks resulting from walls being placed close to them.
He also wondered if extending walls near neighboring county lines would increase erosion there.
"Will we be the domino that makes all of Florida armored?" he questioned.
Beachfront property owner Bill Higgins said he understood people needed to take action to protect their homes, but was concerned about seawalls exacerbating beach erosion.
He continued that it is his belief that Florida statutes prohibit any development that damages his property, which is unarmored.
He added that sand covering mitigates but does not remove the erosion process and expressed concern about adequate monitoring of sand covering.
Seagrove Beach homeowner Scott Bruns said he had never been notified about seawalls that were being constructed on the beach and that he is "threatened by those walls."
"I'm worse off," he noted.
Montgomery Street beachfront homeowner Jim Eaton requested that the BCC wait and "see what the legislature does" before acting, since statutes clarifying the use of geotube-type armoring structures are now being considered in session.
Local attorney Frank Watson was concerned about the amount of work that the proposed county review procedure would put on staff.
Gulf Trace homeowner Lee Perry said he thought the BCC should encourage armoring, since without it, unsightly erosion under homes would continue indefinitely.
However, Perry said he would not be willing to pay $100,000 every year to keep his armoring covered with sand.
Beachfront homeowner Sherry Rayborn was distressed that "Two years later we're still talking about the same thing."
She described herself as "in limboland."
South Walton County resident Alan Ficarra complimented the BCC for considering the county review procedures.
He encouraged Walton County's participation in this process to ensure that "county concerns" are addressed.
He called arranging for Dean's assistance "a wise step by the county."
Terry Anderson said he wished that all the money spent on seawalls could have gone into a beach nourishment project.
However, he said that the armoring had been necessary to prevent the immediate loss of homes.
Without such action, much of the dune system would also be lost, he commented.
"We're caught in a stalemate here," Anderson said of the situation with DEP requiring compliance letters from the county.
Blue Mountain Beach resident Juanito Durand said he would never have built a seawall after Hurricane Dennis if he had understood he might have to tear it down.
"I don't think I am personally going to vote to have anyone remove a seawall that's there," District 5 Commissioner Cindy Meadows responded.
"I don't think any of us want to see us ripping out seawalls," agreed District 4 Commissioner Sara Comander.
Meadows' concern was whether the entire beach would end up being "walled up."
"We definitely need to deal with this so it doesn't happen again," she said.
Meadows thought that requirements for building walls in the future should be "very stringent" to protect the best interest of the public.
Comander's opinion was that the county's main role in the future with the new review procedure would be to ensure "that walls remain covered with sand."
"All of us want to protect your property rights and protect the beaches for the years to come," Comander told the homeowners.
"You can't change the rules midstream," protested local attorney Gary Shipman.
"The citizens of this county have a right to have the rules spelled out by the government and rely on those rules," he added.
Meadows recommended that the commission set up a "vesting category" for existing armoring structures and existing armoring/armoring permit requests.
New requests after a certain date would be required to follow the new procedures that had been discussed.
County Commission Chair Ken Pridgen agreed that emergency permit holders should be dealt with "differently," adding that a requirement to keep armoring covered with sand is essential.
"Let everybody's ticket get stamped for the dance with DEP," countered District 1 Commissioner Scott Brannon.
Brannon said he would not favor a BCC action that would treat any coastal armoring application in a different way from other applications.
Several motions were initiated by the commissioners but none were approved.
Burke called Meadows' support of a vesting category "a very creative solution" but advised that linking it to a date might not be the most appropriate method.
He proposed that he develop an alternate plan and bring it before the commissioners at their April 10 meeting for consideration.
It was decided that the topic would be taken up again on that date, with action on the matter possible at that time.
Sports News & Notes
By PATRICK CASEY
The Okaloosa-Walton softball team was swept by Tallahassee Community College in a doubleheader last week to fall to 4-8 in Panhandle Conference play.
The Lady Raiders are 24-24 overall and will need an extremely strong finish to have a shot at qualifying for the state tournament.
The OWC baseball team lost all three games to Pensacola Junior College over the weekend to fall to 7-9 in conference play.
The Walton tennis team swept the boys and girls match with Pine Forest 7-0 in their final regular season match of the year.
The boys team hold a 5-6 match record with the girls at 4-7.
Walton will take part in the District 1, Class 2A tournament at the University of West Florida on Monday, April 16.
Freeport will host the District 1, Class A tennis tournament that will also feature South Walton.
The Florida State baseball team won two out of three at North Carolina State over the weekend to improve to 31-4overall and 10-2 in the ACC.
FSU returns home to Tallahassee to host Virginia Tech this weekend in a three-game series.
The Freedom All-Star Classic, a pair of basketball games made up of local senior players, saw the East win both games over the West on Saturday.
Gulf Coast Community College played host to the all-star event as Lacey Griffin scored 16 points to help the East defeat the West 90-76.
Paxton's Tareisa Reese and Alena Martin scored six points apiece while Breezy Zorn went scoreless in the contest.
The East won the boys game 91-78 over the West.
Panama City Bozeman pulled out the rematch with Ponce de Leon as the Bucks scored a run in the seventh and eight innings to grab a 3-2 victory in a District 2, Class 2A baseball game.
Bozeman will host the district tournament in two weeks and will enter the four-team event as the top seeded team.
Contact Patrick Casey online at heraldsports@aol.com.