The Florida Highway Patrol says a third utility company worker has died after a pickup truck pulling a U-Haul trailer hit them while they were repairing lines damaged by Hurricane Michael Wednesday evening near Chipley. Washington County Sheriff Kevin Crew said the driver – 37-year-old John Goedtke, who appeared to be intoxicated – fled the…… MORE
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MOTION TO DISMISS FRAUD CHARGE
The former president of the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce is trying to get a fraud charge against her dismissed. A motion filed by her attorney says Valerie Lott has mental health problems, including bipolar disorder, which keeps her from knowing right from wrong. Lott served as chamber president and office manager from 2015 to…… MORE
FAKE VOTING TEXT MESSAGES
Paul Lux, Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections, is warning residents about fake text messages being sent to voters. He said voters have received texts from a unknown organization posing as the Okaloosa Supervisor of Elections office telling them their early voting ballot wasn’t counted. Lux said similar text messages have been reported in other parts…… MORE
FLORIDA SUPREME COURT NOMINEES
The future of the Florida Supreme Court may depend on the outcome of this fall’s race for governor. The Court ruled that the next governor, who takes office in early January, has the authority to make those appointments. If Republican Ron DeSantis wins he has said he will appoint three conservative justices. If Democrat Andrew…… MORE
UTILITIES BILLING PROBLEMS
One of the utility companies that serves counties in rural Northwest Florida that were impacted by Hurricane Michael has asked state regulators Tuesday for permission to suspend sending bills to customers while power restoration continues. Florida Public Utilities has about 13,000 customers in Jackson, Calhoun and Liberty counties, said they continue to have problems delivering…… MORE
CAB DRIVER DECLARED INCOMPETENT
A former cab driver, charged with shooting and killing an Uber driver in June, has been declared incompetent to stand trial. Bill Bishop, the chief assistant state attorney in Okaloosa County, said Circuit Court Judge William Stone has ordered 35-year-old Timothy Anderson sent to the Florida State Hospital in Chattahoochee for competency training and evaluation.…… MORE
NEW FLU DRUG
U.S. health regulators have approved the first new type of flu drug in two decades for people age 12 and older. Xofluza is a pill that can reduce severity and shorten THE duration of flu symptoms after one just dose. It works about as well as Tamiflu, which is also available in cheaper generic versions.…… MORE
FANTASY 5 WINNER CLAIMS PRIZE
The owner of a winning lottery ticket sold last week in North Escambia has claimed her prize. The Florida Lottery said the Fantasy 5 ticket was sold to Sharon Hare of Thomasville, Alabama, who bought the ticket at the Korner Kwik Stop on Highway 97 on October 19th. It was worth $38,558.47 and was one…… MORE
MEDICAL EXAMINER PAY DISPUTE
Dr. Andrea Minyard, Medical Examiner for the First Judicial Circuit here in West Florida, says she is still planning to resign on November 30th unless a salary dispute between her and the four counties she serves can be resolved. State Attorney Bill Eddins is urging the counties to come to a compromise on pay until…… MORE
FATAL SANTA ROSA DUI CRASH ARREST
The Florida Highway Patrol says a 47-year-old Mississippi man was arrested yesterday morning and charged with DUI manslaughter. Troopers say David Owen Jr., of Gulfport, Mississippi, was eastbound on Interstate 10 in Santa Rosa County at around 3:35 a.m. when he failed to negotiate an off-ramp, and the truck ran off the roadway and overturned. A passenger…… MORE
