Friday, July 8, 2011
Eastpoint man charged in scheme to sell illegally caught fish
An Eastpoint fisherman is one of 4 men named in a 58 count federal indictment alleging a scheme to sell illegally harvested fish purchased from unlicensed fishermen.
United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announced that 39 year old Charles Stacy Logue of Eastpoint along with Junior Wayne Harper of Thomasville, Byron James Puckette of Cairo and Ronnie Irvin Burdette of Moultrie took part in the scheme.
The indictment alleges that Harper, the owner and Chief Executive Officer of Harper's Seafood, in Thomasville, GA, and Puckett, the company's Vice President, conspired to purchase fish which they knew had been taken and sold in violation of Florida laws.
Harper and Puckett are alleged to have purchased the fish from different unlicensed fishermen, including Misters Logue and Burdette.
Harper is a named defendant in 52 counts; Burdette is charged in 30 counts; Logue is charged in 22 counts; and Puckett is charged in 19 counts.
In addition, Harper and Puckett are charged with other felony violations of the Lacey Act for making and submitting to the State of Florida false Florida Marine Fisheries Trip Tickets.
The indictment alleges that in order to conceal some illegal purchases of fish, Harper and Puckett falsified the trip tickets by identifying an illegally purchased species of fish as a different species.
Each count of the indictment carries a maximum possible sentence of five years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both, a period of supervised release of up to three years, and a $100 mandatory assessment.
All of the men have entered not guilty pleas to the charges.
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Wakulla County Correctional Officers charged with misconduct and more
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Department of Corrections have filed charges against three employees a the state prison in Wakulla County after an investigation revealed the three abused inmates at the prison and then falsified reports about it.
FDLE began investigating the three in March after receiving a complaint from the Florida Department of Corrections’ Office of Inspector General.
According to investigators, an inmate made a disparaging remark about Captain Megan Dillard which resulted in Dillard allegedly falsifying 13 disciplinary reports against 13 different inmates.
The false disciplinary reports resulted in a loss of privileges and a transfer to a confinement dormitory.
While the inmates were being transferred to the dormitory, Corrections Officer Andrew Gazapian allegedly battered one of the inmates by forcing him to the ground and then using a chemical spray on him.
Gazapian then falsified a report to say the inmate was being combative and had bitten him on the left arm.
Investigation later revealed that the inmate was not being combative and that Gazapian had bitten himself and blamed the injury on the inmate.
After the inmate was transferred to the confinement cell, he was again sprayed three times with a chemical agent for allegedly causing a disturbance in his cell.
The investigation revealed there was no disturbance and reports of the inmate’s actions had been falsified at the direction of Major Joseph. Garrison.
Major Garrison of Crawfordville, has been charged with one count of official misconduct.
Captain Dillard of Tallahassee was charged with 13 counts of official misconduct and Correctional officer Gazapian also of Tallahassee will be charged with one count of official misconduct, one count of fabricating physical evidence, and one count of battery.
Garrison and Dillard were arrested and processed at the Wakulla County Jail.
Gazapian was located by FDLE out of state and was ordered to turn himself in when he returns to Florida next week.
All of the inmates involved in this incident have been moved out of the Wakulla Correctional Institution.
The Office of State Attorney Willie N. Meggs, 2nd Judicial Circuit, will prosecute this case.
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DACS: In Case You Missed It - July 8, 2011
Florida Launches Website Touting Safety Of Gulf Seafood Despite lingering consumer wariness over the safety of Florida's Gulf of Mexico seafood, tests conducted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services show that the products are safe to eat. On Wednesday, the department launched a new website, www.MyFloridaGulfSafe.com, as part of a marketing campaign initiated in August to spread that message. In April 2010, BP's Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico releasing millions of gallons of oil into the ocean. (Palm Beach Post, 7/6) Opinion: Act Will Bring More Florida Produce To School Lunches Our kids just won a huge battle in the fight against childhood obesity. Gov. Rick Scott signed the Healthy Schools for Healthy Lives Act, putting control of school food in the hands of the Department of Agriculture. I applaud the governor and excitedly await Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam's effort to get more of Florida's fresh fruits and vegetables in Florida schools. With an American Heart Association survey finding that few children have an ideal diet and that one out of three kids is overweight, bringing change to the cafeteria is a key victory. While I understand parents are ultimately responsible for their children's health, it is a comfort to know the state of Florida, the Department of Agriculture and school cafeterias are right there beside us. (St. Petersburg Times, 7/4) Two-Tier Gas Pricing Catching Customers Unaware What gas customers see advertised may not be the price they pay at the pump. It's because of something gas inspection experts call two-tier pricing. In response to many questions from viewers about the different pricing, First Coast News asked why, if it's legal and what you can do about it. Gas stations using two-tier pricing advertise one price for cash (or company-specific credit cards, such as Shell or Chevron), but display another price at the pump for credit cards. In the past month, the state's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has received 10 registered complaints. Two are awaiting inspection, one had several violations, but the others were cleared. To the dismay of many, two-tier pricing is legal as long as it's conspicuously marked on the advertised sign, according to Lawson. (First Coast News, 7/8) It’s One Of Best Years For Florida Mangoes For mango lovers, this season is particularly sweet. If you have a mango tree or two, chances are you’ve been scrambling in the sweltering heat to stay ahead of the squirrels, serving mangoes at every meal and lugging bags of fruit to work. An unusually cold December and record dry season were the perfect recipe for “one of the better years,” for the golden beauties, said Louise King, president of the Tropical Fruit Growers of South Florida. “It’s absolutely wonderful for mangoes. They look like jewels hanging from the trees.” (Bradenton Herald, 7/6) Commissioner Spotlight On Wednesday, Commissioner Putnam traveled to St. Petersburg for an interview with Adam Smith, host of Political Connections on Bay News 9. The interview will air on Sunday, July 17. Commissioner Putnam met with leaders of the South Florida Water Management District in Clewiston on Thursday to discuss Lake Okeechobee and the effects of this year’s drought on its water level. Friday, Commissioner Putnam launched the “Don’t Pack a Pest” public awareness campaign at a press conference at the Miami International Airport. The public awareness campaign was developed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Miami-Dade County. It aims to raise awareness among travelers for the risks associated with the introduction of pests and diseases into Florida and the United States. At the Department The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is working to increase consumer confidence by raising awareness among consumers for the proven safety of Gulf seafood through the “Florida Gulf Safe” campaign. On Wednesday, the Department’s Marketing Division launched a new website, www.MyFloridaGulfSafe.com, where consumers can see the results of state seafood lab testing, find seafood recipes, locate restaurants and retail markets, and more. The Department has also partnered with Florida Outdoor Advertising Association to communicate this message on billboards statewide and with the Florida Department of Transportation to reach travelers on Florida’s Turnpike via tollbooth signs. Full-page ads will appear in magazines that target chefs and restaurateurs, as well as in upscale consumer magazines. Tabletop displays will be distributed to restaurants and seafood retailers to reach consumers where they shop. The “Florida Gulf Safe” message will also reach national audiences through a special “Sustainable Seafood Issue” of Guy Harvey Magazine, which is named for the acclaimed marine conservationist and artist. The July issue features an article about the Department’s ongoing testing of Florida Gulf seafood by the Department. The special issue also includes an article on “Gulf Wild,” a program in which Florida Gulf commercial fishermen identify their catch with gill tags that enable retailers and consumers to discover the location where a fish was caught and by which fishing vessel and captain. The article highlights how vital marine species have rebounded through conservation methods that help create healthy and sustainable fisheries and how the future of aquaculture can play an important role in helping feed the increasing global population. A Look Ahead · Monday, July 11: Commissioner Putnam will testify before the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Pensacola, FL. · Tuesday, July 12: Commissioner Putnam will deliver remarks to the Big Bend Chapter of the National Association of American Foresters, Tallahassee, FL. |
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Hunter safety course offered in Jefferson County
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering a free hunter safety course in Jefferson County.
The course will be at the Beau Turner Youth Conservation Center, 9194 S. Jefferson Highway, in Monticello. Instruction will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 23 and from 1 to 5 p.m. July 24.
Students who have taken the Internet course and wish to complete the classroom portion must bring the online-completion report and attend only the July 24 class from 1 to 5 p.m.
An adult must accompany children under the age of 16 at all times. Students are encouraged to bring a pencil and paper with them to take notes.
The hunter safety course is required for anyone born on or after June 1, 1975, to purchase a Florida hunting license. The FWC course satisfies hunter-safety training requirements for all other states and Canadian provinces.
People interested in attending this course can register online and obtain information about future hunter safety classes at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety or by calling the FWC's regional office in Panama City at 850-265-3676.
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New date, time for gopher tortoise workshop in Wakulla County
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has rescheduled a workshop in Wakulla County to present information on the management plan and permitting guidelines for gopher tortoises. Originally set for July 8, the workshop now will take place on Monday, July 18.
The goal of this workshop is to identify ways local governments can participate in protecting one of Florida’s threatened species. In addition, presenters will introduce other FWC programs of interest to local governments.
Representatives from neighboring counties are encouraged to attend.
The workshop is free, but registration is required. To register, please send your name and the name of your organization to Alexandra.Perryman@MyFWC.com.
Wakulla County
Monday, July 18
1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
IFAS Extension Office
84 Cedar Avenue
Crawfordville, FL 32327
Directions:
Take U.S. 319 into Crawfordville. Turn right onto Cedar Avenue. Follow Cedar to the Extension Office, which is on the right.
Take U.S. 319 into Crawfordville. Turn right onto Cedar Avenue. Follow Cedar to the Extension Office, which is on the right.
Workshops will be held in Marion, Osceola, Palm Beach, Lee, Sarasota, Escambia and Suwannee counties in the coming weeks. For more information visit MyFWC.com/GopherTortoise.
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FWC names boating educator of the year
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has selected Dr. Wilbur G. Hugli of Fort Walton Beach as Florida’s 2010 Boating Educator of the Year. As the state winner, Hugli will also be a candidate for the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators’ (NASBLA) national award.
The award recognizes those in the boating education field who go above and beyond to engage new and current boaters, raise awareness and make boating education initiatives relevant, thorough and exciting.
FWC Capt. Richard Moore, who is Florida’s boating law administrator and NASBLA representative, was responsible for working with a selection committee to choose a recipient for the award.
“While all of the nominees demonstrated outstanding credentials, our committee unanimously selected Dr. Hugli.” Moore said.Hugli has been part of the Fort Walton Sail and Power Squadron, a unit of the U.S. Power Squadrons, for 21 years. The U.S. Power Squadrons organization is a nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to making boating safer and more enjoyable by teaching classes in seamanship, navigation and related subjects.
Through his efforts with the Power Squadrons, Hugli has volunteered his time to author four widely acclaimed boating safety seminars as well as a benchmark student manual for educating new boaters.
“Many people have busy lifestyles and a limited ability to commit to traditional classes,” Moore said. “Dr. Hugli has pioneered creative solutions to address this.”
Hugli has also reached out to young boaters, prompting Crestview High School and the University of West Florida to implement classroom and online boating safety classes.
“Dr. Hugli has been a valuable partner to the FWC,” Moore said. “He is thoroughly involved with boating safety education and training at all levels and truly understands the goal of educating the public – reducing risk and ultimately saving lives.”Moore said the selection committee focused on choosing an individual who exhibited a passion for safe boating, a use of innovative education techniques, a delivery of risk-based education and active support of state boating safety goals.
“We are impressed with the way Dr. Hugli’s boating safety education efforts fit our areas of emphasis and the fact that he has accomplished so much in his work as a volunteer,” Moore said.
FWC staff will formally recognize Hugli at an upcoming Fort Walton Sail and Power Squadron meeting. Hugli will now compete with nominees from other states at both the regional and national level. The three regional winners will win a trip to the NASBLA Annual Conference, where the national winner will be announced.
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Habitat Closes Loan On Second Carrabelle House
Habitat for Humanity of Franklin County, Florida board members and builder met at the law offices of Kristy Branch Banks in Eastpoint July 7 to close the loan on their new home with Kenny Griswold and Becky Bergstrom. Kristy, also a board member, volunteers her time to help Affordable Housing in the county.
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| From the left, back row: Habitat’s Cliff Butler, Rob Peterson, Kristy Banks and Skip Frink. Front row: Kenny and Becky, homeowners |
Just over 6 months of building has produced a showplace home at 519 SE Ave A, Carrabelle, on the corner of 5th Street. The new owners and son Jarrad have taken care to water the newly-sodded lawn during this dry period, and soon a streetside parking area will be complete.
Habitat for Humanity provides no-interest loans and favorable mortgage payments to qualified families to give them that “hand up” that will start the family into home ownership. 400 hours of “sweat equity” is required of the family, as they build their home along with many local volunteer citizens and companies.
Interested volunteers may visit www.habitatfranklin.org for information and a place to sign up for either construction or non-construction assistance to Habitat. Soon building will start on one or both of two Eastpoint lots donated by the banking community recently.
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New Phone Numbers for NOAA Fisheries Headquarters
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Thursday, July 7, 2011
Florida State Forest Service Lifts Open Campfire Ban
Increased Rain Across the State of Florida Improves Conditions
Tallahassee, FL – The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Florida Forest Service announced today that campers and visitors to Florida’s forests may once again utilize open campfires at all state forests. The Florida Forest Service lifted the ban in response to increased amounts of rain and improved wildfire conditions.
The ban was put in place by the Florida Forest Service on June 13 in response to extreme drought conditions. While the ban has been lifted for state forests, the ban may still be in effect on other public lands at the discretion of the managing agency.
The Florida Forest Service strongly urges all visitors planning an open campfire on public lands to check with the managing agency of that property first. This includes state parks, wildlife management areas and other outdoor recreations areas.
Since January 1, the Florida Forest Service has responded to 3,877 wildfires and battled more than 200,000 burning acres.
For more information about the Florida Forest Service and current wildfire conditions, visit www.fl-dof.com.
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Freaky Florida July 7th, 2011
All things oyster July 7th, 2011
- Volunteers take on Choctawhatchee Bay preservation hands-on
- Hopeful Signs for Oysters Despite Fresh Water Flooding
- Food Poisoning Attorney Settles Wrongful Death Lawsuit
- French oyster farmers return favour to Japan
- River flooding to spare more oyster crops than expected
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'BEARS OF THE FORGOTTEN COAST' TOPIC OF JULY 14 LECTURE AT FSU COASTAL AND MARINE LAB
At 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 14, the Florida State University Coastal and Marine Lab will host a free, public lecture titled "Bears of the Forgotten Coast." The guest speaker will be Adam Warwick, a resident of nearby Sopchoppy, Fla., and a wildlife biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission whose work is focused in the Apalachicola National Forest and Tate's Hell State Forest.
Warwick will discuss the interesting characteristics and behaviors of the Forgotten Coast bears and some of his unique interactions with them. He'll also address some of the conservation challenges involved in managing the Florida public lands that encompass prime bear habitat.
Light refreshments will be served following the lecture, which is a part of the lab's ongoing Conservation Lecture Series.
Warwick's lecture -- "Bears of the Forgotten Coast" -- will be held:
THURSDAY, JULY 14
7 - 9 P.M.
AUDITORIUM
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COASTAL AND MARINE LAB
3618 COASTAL HIGHWAY
ST. TERESA, FLA.
(FRANKLIN COUNTY, INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAYS 98/319, HALFWAY BETWEEN CARRABELLE AND PANACEA)
Lecture attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable food donation for the Second Harvest of the Big Bend.
Visit the FSU Coastal and Marine Lab website at http://www.marinelab.fsu.edu/
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Apalachicola downtown event Highlights Weekend Activities
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Franklin County wants local BP office to stay open
The local BP office at the old Apalachicola High School is slated to be closed in August but the county commission is going to try to stop the closure.
The office was opened shortly after the BP oil spill to provide a place for local residents impacted by the spill to apply for BP payments.
County commissioners say they aren’t ready for the office to close and they have decided to write a letter to Kenneth Feinberg asking that the office stay open.
Mister Feinberg is the administrator of the BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster Victim Compensation Fund
County commission chairman Noah Lockley said there are still people in this county who have not finished their business with BP and he wants the office to stay open until their job is done.
Commissioner Lockley said he doesn’t think local people need to be burning gas to deal with BP assistance and added that BP brought the problem to us we didn’t bring it to them.
The rest of the board agreed – the vote was unanimous to try to keep the local BP office open.
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Department of Agriculture unveils "safe seafood" website
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services launched a new website this week promoting the safety of gulf coast seafood.
The website is MyFloridaGulfSafe.com.Its part of a public awareness campaign to assure consumers that Florida Gulf seafood is safe and plentiful.
The campaign also includes billboards, tollbooth signs, full-page ads in magazines that target chefs and restaurateurs, as well as in upscale consumer magazines.
Tabletop displays will be distributed to restaurants and seafood retailers to reach consumers where they shop.
The Gulf Seafood industry is still feeling the impact of the BP oil spill and the public impression that gulf seafood is tainted because of the spill.
Over the past year, the state has screened 297 samples of finfish and shellfish for possible oil contamination.
All findings are well below the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s levels of concern.
Despite the proven safety of Florida’s Gulf seafood, the public remains wary.
In a survey conducted in April, 63 percent of Floridians voiced concern about the safety of Florida Gulf seafood, an increase from 48 percent in January.
A majority of Floridians remain concerned about the unforeseen risks of the oil spill on the safety of seafood.
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Dixie Youth softball tournament this weekend in Carrabelle
This will be a big weekend for youth sports in Franklin County.
The 2011 Dixie Girls All-Star State softball Tournament will be held at Kendrick Park in Carrabelle this weekend.
This five day event will see up to thirty one teams competing.
At stake is the Florida State Championship and a chance to go on to the World Series.
The tournament officially kicks off tonight with a banquet for the players and coaches.
It should be pretty packed as nearly 600 softball players are expected to take part in the weekend’s event.
The cost for the event is 5 dollars a day or you can get a pass for the full four day tournament for 15 dollars.
The tournament is being hosted by the Franklin County Sports and Recreation Department.
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Franklin County Humane Society is drowning in cats
The Franklin County humane society is experiencing a huge increase in owner surrendered and stray cats and kittens.
The humane society says they have no way to house and care for the numbers of cats being left in the drop-off pen and left in boxes on the front door step.
They hope that there are people in the community who would be willing to adopt one or two of the animals and they are making it more affordable to do so.
The cost of adoption is usually $90.00 but until these cats and kittens are adopted, the cost is only $45.00 for one and $75.00 for two.
They have a wide variety of cats including Siamese, Calico’s, Russian Blue’s, short hairs, long hairs, and medium hairs of every color.
All are feline leukemia negative, spayed or neutered and up to date on vaccinations.
If you would like to take a look at the cats you can stop by the Humane Society adoption center on Highway 65 north of Eastpoint.
You can also see the animals on-line at forgottenpets.org.
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FDOT’S FLORIDA 511 LAUNCHES NEW TRAFFIC APP Florida 511 App Now Available for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch
Florida 511 App Now Available for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch
TALLAHASSEE, FL –- The Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) Florida 511 iPhone application (app) is now available for free download on iTunes. The Florida 511 Traveler Information System provides traffic information on all of Florida’s interstates, toll roads and many major metropolitan roadways. The app is available for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch in the iTunes App Store. The new app provides the same real-time traffic and travel time information as the 511 phone system and FL511.com.
The 511 app uses iPhone’s GPS tracking to provide users with traffic information within miles of their location. Users can set the app to provide information for a range of up to 200 miles from their location or receive traffic information based on their registered My Florida 511 custom routes. Travel time information is also available based on location and direction of travel. The Florida 511 app offers traffic updates in three ways:
- An audible recording of incidents
- On-screen list of incidents
- Map view displaying incidents
“This is a great addition to Florida 511’s suite of traffic resources such as the toll-free phone call, FL511.com and My Florida 511 personalized services,” said FDOT Secretary Ananth Prasad. “The app allows users to access traffic updates quickly and safely.”
The Florida 511 system is a safety resource from FDOT. The Department reminds all travelers to Know Before You Go by checking the app, making a toll-free call to 511 or visiting FL511.com before leaving to avoid distracted driving.
“If you’re on the road, have a passenger check 511 or pull off the road to call 511 or check the 511 app,” said Sgt. Kim Montes of the Florida Highway Patrol.
Users can still receive personalized Florida 511 updates by creating a My Florida 511 account. Registered users can hear information on their custom routes first when calling 511 and even receive traffic alerts via phone call, text message and/or e-mail. My Florida 511 users can customize alerts based on time of day, day of the week and severity of incident.
The system is also updated during emergencies such as a hurricane or wildfire with information on lane closures, toll suspensions and more. http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments
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