Johnny Farmer was unaware he would be taken back into custody after a March 6 arraignment for the accidental hunting death of a longtime friend. However, the State Attorney’s Office chose to up a second-degree count to a first-degree charge March 5 after a judge tossed out an additional felony Feb. 1.
Former state senator Charles Clary has been issued a $6,300 citation for clearing land without a permit last October. The incident resulted in the destruction of protected trees on a roughly 3.5-acre parcel he owns on U.S. 98 near Cotton Bay Estates subdivision.
A jury found Ernest Parker, 52, a former employee of the closed Milton Girls Juvenile Residential Facility, guilty of three counts of sexual misconduct March 6. He will be sentenced April 16 and faces a maximum of 45 years in prison.
Today Santa Rosa County Commissioners will decide if a $7,500 survey to gather input on a Navarre Community Center is worth the cost. Commissioners will also discuss other matters, including courthouse plans for the proposed future judicial site on Hwy. 90.
Work to add an additional north bound left turn lane and turn signal on to U.S. 98 from the Navarre Beach Causeway will begin next week. Currently the intersection has a dedicated right turn lane and one left turn lane.
“’How much is it going to cost me?’ is the number one question I hear whenever incorporating Navarre comes up,” said Citizens to Incorporate Navarre member Laurie Gallup.
Etta Lawlor filed papers March 7 with the Santa Rosa County Supervisor of Elections Office and is now the sixth candidate vying for commissioner in District 4. Lawler filed as a Libertarian Party of Florida candidate. The other five candidates — James Broxson, Ruth Esser, Yvonne Harper, Andrea McDermott and Rob Williamson — all filed as republicans.
Before the recession, the Holley Navarre Water District had 56 employees, and now they are down by nine. Eight positions were approved to be opened at the February board meeting. “Some will be installing meters and some will be pipe layers,” said General Manager, Ken Walker. The pay rate will be $10 per hour for most positions, “which is our minimum wage,” said Walker. Walker made note of the recent statement by President Obama. The new employees will also assist the district to go from radio reading meters from a truck driving by to meters being read by towers.
Residents in a southwest Florida community are keeping their eyes focused on Tallahassee this legislative session as a bill being considered there would give them the opportunity to head to the polls and decide whether or not Estero should become Florida’s newest incorporated village.
A family from Pensacola is working to change an ordinance that would have forced them to find another home for their pet pot-bellied pig named Buttercup.
