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imes TAdvertiser HOLMES COUNTY

www.bonifaynow.com

Wednesday, SEPTEMBER 25, 2013

For the latest breaking news, visit BONIFAYNOW.COM

IN BRIEF Lonny Lindsey Trail Ride BONIFAY — The Lonny Lindsey Trail Ride will be Sept. 28. Proceeds go to the Lonny Lindsey Scholarship Fund. There is a $6 donation asked to ride, and this includes lunch and all the fellowship you can handle. Registration will be at 9 a.m. at the Carmel Assembly Church parking lot, on Highway 160 just off Highway 79 or Highway 177. Ride out will be at 10 a.m. Coggins is required. Lunch will include grilled chicken, slaw and baked beans with Pepsi. For more information, call Dennis Lee after 5 p.m. at 547-9188 or Sue Mitchell at 547-5055.

Chamber to host shooting tourney CHIPLEY — The Washington County Chamber of Commerce will host a Shooting Tourney for skeet, trap and sporting clay from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at Hard Labor Creek Shooting Sports. The tournament is great practice for the upcoming dove season. Entry fees are $80 for individual, and team sponsorships are $100, $250 and $500. There are junior and adult divisions, and prizes and lunch

See BRIEF A8

INDEX Opinion ................................ A4 Arrests ................................. A7 Sports ............................. A9-10 Extra.................................... B1 Faith .................................... B4 Obituaries ............................ B5 Classifieds ............................ B7

Phone: 850-547-9414 Web site: bonifaynow.com Fax: 850-547-9418

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Volume 123, Number 24

50¢

School board approves millage, budget By CECILIA SPEARS

ber Debbie Kolmetz voting “no.” “We were able to break down the funding in much more depth than we’ve ever been able to before,” Finance Officer Larry Hawkins said. “We’ve got it broken down to where we can see the cost of each student. We’re still not back to the peak we were at in 2008, but we’re functioning.” Local resident Janet Watson asked about improving the school

547-9414 | @WCN_HCT cspears@chipleypaper.com BONIFAY — The Holmes County District School Board approved resolutions setting the millage rate at 7.396 and adopting the 2013-14 budget of $32,933,665 during their regular meeting on Sept. 17. The millage rate was approved with a vote of 4-1, with board mem-

lunch program at Poplar Springs School. “Thanks to Mrs. Obama, we’ve had to undergo changes in the lunch rooms, though the only thing that’s changed is that they’ve added salads,” Watson said. “My children are coming home hungry.” Chairman Rusty Williams agreed that changes could be made to better the lunch selection at Poplar Springs School.

Rodeo: 8 days to go By CECILIA SPEARS

“I know we’re following the state guidelines when it comes to providing school lunches,” Superintendent Eddie Dixon said. “We can look at additional programs and see what we can do.” Watson also said the gym’s air conditioning needed to be fixed. “We had a tournament in a gym without A/C,” Watson said.

See SCHOOL BOARD A2 INSIDE See a brief history of the Port of Port St. Joe, A8

ON THE WEB

547-9414 | @WCN_HCT cspears@chipleypaper.com

Visit the Port of St. Joe website at portofportstjoe.com.

BONIFAY — The countdown to the 2013 Northwest Florida Championship Rodeo continues with only eight days to go. Bonifay Kiwanis President Elect Sandy Spear provided some of the latest news at the Bonifay Kiwanis Club’s Sept. 18 meeting. “We are just so excited about what this year has to offer,” Spear said. “We now have tickets available online, and we’ve just sold our first tickets online. We’re also offering for the first time ever VIP tickets.” With VIP tickets, ticket holders get preferred parking behind the concession stands, a commemorative cushion with specialized seating at the bull gates, someone to run to and from the concession stands for food and beverages and a back arena pass, allowing them to meet the riders and take pictures with barrel men, clowns and others. “We’re limiting it to 100 VIP tickets per night,” Spear said. “This really gives them a chance to feel like VIPs. This idea was brought to us by our new stock contractor.” Another new feature Spear said she was excited about was the largest raffle prize the rodeo has ever offered.

Port poised to be boon to regional economy PSJ port director updates Chamber

See RODEO A2

By RANDAL SEYLER

638-0212 | @WCN_HCT rseyler@chipleypaper.com

“This is a nonprofit event that is not only for our community but for our children’s bright, bright future.” Sandy Spear Bonifay Kiwanis president elect

August unemployment drops to 7.0 From Staff Reports TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott announced last week that the statewide unemployment rate for August 2013 dropped to 7.0 percent. This is down from 7.1 percent in May, June, and July 2013, and down 4.1 percentage points since December 2010. The statewide unemployment rate has remained below the national average of 7.3 percent for the sixth consecutive month. Florida has created 365,500 private sector jobs since December 2010. In Holmes County, the August 2013 rate dropped to 5.9 percent, according to Department of La-

HOLMES COUNTY

bor reports, down from 6.5 percent in July and down from the August 2012 unemployment rate of 7.4 percent. In Washington County, August saw a dip from 8.3 percent unemployment in July to 7.8 percent in August 2013. In August 2012, Washington County had an unemployment rate of 9.4 percent. “Today’s announcement is great news for Florida families as the state’s unemployment rate dropped to 7.0 percent in August,” Scott said. “Since December 2010, the unemployment rate has dropped 4.1 percentage points, and Florida has created 365,500 new private sector jobs. This is evidence that our pro-

growth and business-friendly policies are working.” In the same timeframe, the national unemployment rate has dropped 2.0 percentage points, demonstrating Florida’s improving economic climate continues to outpace the national recovery. Florida’s unemployment rate has now declined year-over-year for 34 consecutive months. The governor said Florida has experienced positive annual job growth for 37 consecutive months. Florida’s job growth month-to-month has been positive for 23 of the last 26 months. Florida has created 365,500

See UNEMPLOYMENT A2

CHIPLEY — Port Director Tommy Pitts gave the Washington County Chamber of Commerce an update on developments at the Port of Port St. Joe during Thursday’s meeting at the Northwest Florida Community Hospital. “We’re excited about the port, and we have made significant progress toward opening the facility,” said Pitts, of Port St. Joe. Located in Gulf County, the Port of Port St. Joe offers a deepwater seaport with two separate bulkheads, Pitts said. One of the bulkheads features almost 1,900 linear feet at the ship channel turning basin, and the other offers

See PORT A8

PORT OF PORT ST. JOE DIRECTOR TOMMY PITS

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