DFS CITY COUNCIL SEPT. 24 MEETING Fires city planner over drug test refusal. _____ TDC RECONSIDERS LIFEGUARD BID Endorses SWFD services at special meeting. _____ FREEPORT DISMISSES GREENSLAIT AT SPECIAL MEETING Former fire chief failed qualification test. _____ PAXTON TOWN COUNCIL MEETS SEPT. 18 Considers Health Department branch in city limits. _____ SCHOOL BOARD SPECIAL [...]

By REID TUCKER The DeFuniak Springs City Council voted unanimously to terminate City Planner Greg Scoville on the grounds that he refused to take a drug test. Scoville was one of several city employees chosen at random to participate in a drug test last week, but only he declined to take the test. In a [...]

By DOTTY NIST Walton County’s tourism council has voted to recommend the South Walton Fire District’s (SWFD) bid to provide lifeguard/beach safety services on the Walton County beaches.

By BEN GRAFTON At a somber special Council meeting on Sept. 21, before a small crowd that did not include Ben Greenslait, Freeport Mayor Mickey Marse advised the Council that each of them had a copy of a letter which stated that Greenslait did not pass the test that is requisite to serving as Freeport [...]

By REID TUCKER The Walton County Health Department may soon open a branch within Paxton’s city limits, something the Town Council agreed would be a boon to residents.

by PATRICK CASEY and REID TUCKER Walton’s volleyball team was in the for long haul in back-to-back-to-back matches last week, winning four- and five-set victories against Crestview and Freeport on the road and against Marianna at home.

By PATRICK CASEY The Walton Braves rallied from a 21-14 halftime deficit to score 28 unanswered points in the second half of play as they captured a 42-21 victory in Freeport on Friday night.

THE HERALD TALKS WITH COUNCILMAN HENRY ENNIS DFS City Council interview. _____ BCC CAPITAL PROJECTS WORKSHOP SEPT. 13 Economic development, preservation and recreation top list. _____ FREEPORT COUNCIL BUDGET HEARING AND REGULAR MEETING Final budget hearing Sept. 25. _____ WALTON COUNTY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION SUES SCHOOL BOARD Unfair labor practices lawsuit. _____ TDC QUARTERLY MEETING Gulf [...]

By BEN GRAFTON At the Freeport Council meeting of Sept. 11, City Attorney Clayton Adkinson announced that this meeting included the first public hearing for the 2012-2013 budget, total expenses for which are estimated to be $4.564 million. An ad valorem tax rate of 4.7302 mils will be in place compared to the roll-back rate [...]

By DOTTY NIST Gulf Place has been designated as one of the South Walton Tourist Development Council’s (TDC) “Visit South Walton” beach communities.