imes TAdvertiser HOLMES COUNTY
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IN BRIEF Florida Sales Tax Holiday The Florida Sales Tax Holiday for back-toschool supplies begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday, Aug. 2, and ends at midnight Sunday, Aug. 4. For a complete list of tax-exempt items, see last week’s special Back To School section or bonifaynow.com.
www.bonifaynow.com
Volume 123, Number 16
School district approves millage increase By CECILIA SPEARS
547-9414 | @WCN_HCT cspears@chipleypaper.com BONIFAY — The Holmes County District School Board approved a resolution to adopt the tentative millage rate for 2013-14 during its special session July 29. The resolution will increase the
millage by 1.5 mills for a total of 7.396. “It was successfully advertised in the local newspapers, and the reason why we had to advertise is because the total millage rate exceeds the roll-back rate by 20.26 percent,” Board Finance Officer Larry Hawkins said. “The only reason it is such a significant increase
is primarily due to the new schools being built; otherwise, it would’ve actually reduced.” During the public hearing, resident Tony Bess addressed the board. “I’m Holmes County, born and raised, and so are my children,” Bess said. “The only problem I see with this is that only about 30 to 40
KIWANIS IN CONCERT
HCHS Blue Pride Band Camp band officers in Holmes County High School’s Blue Pride Band Camp will meet from 8-11:30 a.m., and the full band will meet from 1-5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Aug. 1-2. The full band will meet from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 5-9, with a lunch break from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 6-8 p.m. Aug. 12-16. Email hchsbluepride@gmail. com with questions.
The Bank of Bonifay repeatedly broke the rules, a Herald-Tribune investigation found. Insiders awarded themselves loans that were far larger than the law allowed. Directors let their wives sit in on board meetings and gave them access to bank records until they were told it was against the law. The bank also failed to track wire transfers from suspected money launderers in Pakistan. Lending officers did not always obtain legally required appraisals. State regulators found that loan files were disorganized and some loan applications contained nothing more than a borrower’s name, address and signature. Practically every time they visited, state regulators criticized the bank for its low standards, find-
BONIFAY — Childbirth Education Classes will be 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Aug. 1-22, at the Holmes County Health Department Healthy Start Annex, 402 N. Oklahoma St.
Back To School Bash
Opinion ................................ A4 Outdoors .............................. A6 Sports .................................. A7 Extra.................................... B1 Obituaries ............................ B3 Faith .................................... B4 Classifieds ............................ B5
CECILIA SPEARS | Times-Advertiser
Grace Bailey was the guest for the Bonifay Kiwanis Club’s July 24 meeting as entertainment, singing “That’s All Right, Mama” by Elvis Presley, “At Last” by Etta James and hymn “His Eye is on the Sparrow.” Bailey is in her senior year at Troy University, majoring in theater with a minor in music. She said she has recently become very active in the theater department. To see Bailey’s performance, click on the link at www.bonifaynow.com.
Heavy rains delay city’s sewer/water project By CECILIA SPEARS
547-9414 | @WCN_HCT cspears@chipleypaper.com
Phone: 850-547-9414 Web site: bonifaynow.com Fax: 850-547-9418
BONIFAY — Work replacing and expanding the city’s water/sewer system has come to a halt because of the threat of heavy rains, the Bonifay City Council learned July 22. “We most likely won’t be able to resume until some time next week,” said Zack Worley, representative from engineering firm Hatch Mott MacDonald. “I would like to inform you that we’re
taking every step to make needed adjustments as we go.” The council approved of $9,700 for a culvert and junction box near Jackson Avenue and to reline the pipe on State Road 79 instead of replacing it, by request of the state Department of Transportation. The council also approved of donating $500 to the Holmes County Dixie Youth All Stars as they head to Nationals in Alexandria, La.
See SEWER A2
See SCHOOL A2
Regulators cited failed Bonifay bank Halifax Media Group
Childbirth Education Classes
INDEX
percent of those living in Holmes County actually pay this tax because the rest are exempt in one way or another. Isn’t there a sales tax or something that could make this more fair?” Superintendent Eddie Dixon said the law requires there be a
By MICHAEL BRAGA and ANTHONY CORMIER
BONIFAY — Rookies and
BONIFAY — A Back to School Bash will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, at Bonifay Elementary School with a bouncy house, face painting, school supplies and more.
50¢
BREAKING THE BANKS Find a database of the 68 banks featured in this series, related documents and other stories in the series at newsherald.com. ing that it ignored recommendations for changes and helped insiders enrich themselves at the institution’s expense. Bank of Bonifay collapsed in May 2010, costing the financial system nearly $80 million. Founded in the Florida Panhandle in 1906, it was the oldest of the 68 banks that failed in Florida during the Great Recession. State examinations show the bank was cited for violations both big and small. Regulators say directors
See BANK A2
County works toward millage rate proposal By CECILIA SPEARS
547-9414 | @WCN_HCT cspears@chipleypaper.com BONIFAY — The Holmes County Board of County Commissioners went into its second week of reviewing the budget during a special session July 23 to decide what millage rate to propose during next week’s regularly scheduled meeting. The Holmes County Sheriff ’s Office submitted in a revised version of its budget, reducing it by $7,802 from the previous submission to encourage the county to consider adding another deputy position. “We devised to add another deputy by taking away our bonuses,” Sheriff Tim Brown said. Commissioner Kenneth Williams suggested they eliminate one of the two dep-
uties’ positions at the courthouse to give more toward hiring a deputy to watch the county. “First of all, that was the judge’s call to increase security at the courthouse,” Brown said. “Second, we don’t have anyone to relieve the one deputy, which means that the area’s security would be compromised every time he had to use the bathroom or eat lunch.” Williams suggested a possible part-time position to cover for the first deputy. “I have a problem with the weekend having only two guys watching over Holmes County and during the week there’s two guys watching the courthouse,” Williams said. “My first priority isn’t the courthouse, it’s those who need protection in
See MILLAGE A2
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Wednesday, JULY 31, 2013
War hero Bud Day remembered, A5