NOTICE OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING NEGOTIATIONS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Collective bargaining negotiation meetings are scheduled to be held Wednesday, April 12, 2023  and Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. (CST). The meetings will be held at the Walton County Sheriff’s Office north administration building in DeFuniak Springs. The purpose of this meeting is collective bargaining between Walton County Sheriff’s Office and the Professional Firefighters of Walton County, Local 4413, International Association of Fire Fighters. The meeting will be held in the cypress room at 752 Triple G Road, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433.   The Walton County Sheriff adheres to the Americans with Disabilities Act and will make reasonable modifications for access to these meetings upon request. Requests may be made to the Human Resources Manager at 850-892-8111 x.3215 at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.The post NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETINGS – APRIL 12TH & 26TH first appeared on Walton County Sheriff’s Office, FL.  https://waltonso.org/news/feed/ Read More

A multi-agency attack leads to the knock down of a four-story house fire, saving multiple nearby homes. At 11:04 p.m. on Saturday, March 18th, Walton County Fire Rescue, South Walton Fire District, and Argyle Volunteer Fire Department responded to a home on Grove Lane in Freeport following a 911 call reporting a large structure fire. Walton County Fire Rescue crews arrived on scene and found heavy smoke and flames coming from the back corner of the multi-story home. They quickly deployed attack lines and began to battle the blaze. South Walton Fire District and Argyle Volunteer Fire Department arrived on scene shortly after and began assisting in fighting the flames. While firefighters were battling the massive fire, heavy winds were attempting to spread the flames to nearby structures. Firefighters fought the flames and wind gusts for several hours before getting the fire under control. Fortunately, no one was injured in the fire and firefighters were able to keep the blaze from spreading to nearby structures. Walton County Fire Rescue cleared the scene at 5:19 a.m. The Fire Marshal’s Office responded to the scene to investigate the cause of the fire. Walton County Fire Rescue would like to thank South Walton Fire District and Argyle Volunteer Fire Department for their assistance. WCFR would also like to thank Eglin Air Force Base Fire & Emergency Services and Liberty Volunteer Fire Department for providing coverage while our firefighters worked the scene. The post FIREFIGHTERS KNOCK DOWN FOUR-STORY BLAZE IN FREEPORT first appeared on... Read More

NOTICE OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING NEGOTIATIONS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC A collective bargaining negotiation meeting is scheduled to be held Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. (CST) at the Walton County Sheriff’s Office north administration building in DeFuniak Springs. The purpose of this meeting is collective bargaining between Walton County Sheriff’s Office and the Professional Firefighters of Walton County, Local 4413, International Association of Fire Fighters. The meeting will be held in the north admin conference room at 752 Triple G Road, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433.   The Walton County Sheriff adheres to the Americans with Disabilities Act and will make reasonable modifications for access to these meetings upon request. Requests may be made to the Human Resources Manager at 850-892-8111 x.3215 at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.The post NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING – MARCH 22, 2023 first appeared on Walton County Sheriff’s Office, FL.  https://waltonso.org/news/feed/ Read More

Early Tuesday morning, an armed robbery suspect out of Walton County was tracked to a location in Newton County, Mississippi and taken into custody. On February 19, 2023, Walton County Sheriff’s Office was called to the Sleep Inn in Mossy Head following the report of an armed robbery. The front desk clerk told deputies the suspect entered the hotel, brandished a firearm, and said, “give me everything you got.” The suspect then fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash. Walton County Sheriff’s Office investigators were quickly able to identify the suspect as Juwon Maurice Hughes, 36, of Jacksonville, Florida. An arrest warrant was issued for Hughes. On Tuesday, March 14, Hughes was found in Hickory, Mississippi by law enforcement. He was arrested and transported to the Newton County Jail to await extradition to Walton County where he will be charged with armed robbery. Walton County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force for their assistance in Hughes’ arrest.The post WALTON COUNTY ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECT ARRESTED IN NEWTON COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI first appeared on Walton County Sheriff’s Office, FL.  https://waltonso.org/news/feed/ Read More

CHIMNEY FIRE EXTENDS INTO HOME; FIREFIGHTERS RUSH TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES Posted on November 14, 2022 MOSSY HEAD, FL — Firefighters battle a blaze spreading throughout a mobile home early this morning in Mossy Head. At 6:00 a.m. on Monday, November 14th, Walton County Fire Rescue responded to a residence on Elmwood Road following a 911 call reporting smoke and flames coming from a single wide mobile home. The caller stated the fire started in the fireplace and quickly began spreading throughout the house. With assistance from DeFuniak Springs Fire Department and Liberty Volunteer Fire Department, Walton County Fire Rescue was able to knock down the flames in under fifteen minutes. Fortunately, the owner made it out of the home safely and no one was injured in the fire. Walton County Fire Rescue Fire Chief Tracey Vause would like to remind everyone the importance of getting an annual chimney inspection. Make sure the top of your chimney is free and clear of overhanging branches, never use any kind of liquid fire starters in your fireplace and keep all furniture and flammable objects at least three feet away from flames. Also, it is important to have a fireplace screen or a set of glass doors with a screen in front of your fireplace during operation.   https://waltonso.org/news/feed/ Read More

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING – NOVEMBER 14, 2022 Posted on November 10, 2022 NOTICE OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING NEGOTIATIONS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC A collective bargaining negotiation meeting is scheduled to be held Monday, November 14, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. (CST) at the Walton County Sheriff’s Office north administration building in DeFuniak Springs. The purpose of this meeting is collective bargaining between Walton County Sheriff’s Office and the Professional Firefighters of Walton County, Local 4413, International Association of Fire Fighters. The meeting will be held in the north admin conference room at 752 Triple G Road, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433.   The Walton County Sheriff adheres to the Americans with Disabilities Act and will make reasonable modifications for access to these meetings upon request. Requests may be made to the Human Resources Manager at 850-892-8111 x.3215 at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.   https://waltonso.org/news/feed/ Read More

DEFUNIAK SPRINGS MAN CONVICTED ON FEDERAL DRUG CHARGES Posted on October 14, 2022 Joseph Flecher Lee, Jr., 47, of DeFuniak Springs, was sentenced on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, to serve a mandatory minimum term of fifteen years in federal prison after pleading guilty to the charges of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. On October 14, 2021, law enforcement executed two federal search warrants at Lee’s residence on Mixon Road in DeFuniak Springs. Approximately 466.5 grams of methamphetamine, a digital scale, and approximately $23,419 in U.S. Currency were located and seized from inside the home. The case resulted from a joint investigation by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office VICE/narcotics unit, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Ryan Love. For more information, contact U.S. Attorney’s Office Northern District of Florida at (850) 216-3845. You can also email the U.S. Attorney’s Office at [email protected]. RELATED ARTICLE: https://waltonso.org/more-than-a-pound-of-meth-23k-cash-and-ammunition-located-during-narcotics-search-warrant/   https://waltonso.org/news/feed/ Read More

TRAFFIC STOPS LEAD TO THE SEIZURE OF OVER 60 GRAMS OF FENTANYL AND HEROIN Posted on October 13, 2022 Over 60 grams of fentanyl and heroin are taken off the streets following two separate traffic stops by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office. On September 21st, Walton County Sheriff’s Office deputies and VICE/Narcotics investigators conducted a traffic stop on a white sedan near the intersection of Persimmon Street and Cedar Avenue in Choctaw Beach. During the traffic stop, the driver, Jonathon Scott Hataway, 28, was found to be in possession of 27 grams of marijuana and 57 grams of fentanyl. Two weeks later, on October 8th, deputies pulled over another white sedan near the intersection of US Highway 98 West and Old Blue Mountain Road. The driver of the vehicle, Michael Wayne Hand, 53, was found to be in possession of four small bags of a powdery substance, which he later told deputies was heroin. Both men were subsequently arrested and transported to the Walton County Jail. Hataway is facing two felony drug charges: trafficking in fentanyl and possession of marijuana over 20 grams. He was released on a $50,000 bond. Hand was charged with possession of heroin with the intent to sell. He was released on a $15,000 bond.   https://waltonso.org/news/feed/ Read More

PATH AND PURPOSE; DISCOVERING A NEW LIFE AFTER INCARCERATION Posted on October 11, 2022 The Walton County Jail graduates 32 inmates from a new program aimed at breaking the cycle of drugs and violence. The Residential Substance Abuse Treatment program is a 90-day program which utilizes a multitude of holistic treatments to combat drug addiction and trauma. The Walton County Jail now offers psychoeducational groups designed to educate inmates on substance abuse and related behaviors and consequences. As part of this substance abuse program, inmates have access to the Living in Balance curriculum, which is an evidence-based program designed to help prevent those with substance abuse issues from relapsing upon their release from jail. This program teaches inmates how to combat criminal thinking and is essential to the development of relapse prevention skills. “Our goal is to provide opportunities to change lives,” says Sheriff Michael Adkinson. “We want these men and women to realize their potential and not allow their past to limit their future.” In addition to the substance abuse treatments, the initiative also offers job training programs as well as assistance with resume writing, interview skills, and information on how to conduct a job search. So far, 19 male inmates and 13 female inmates have graduated from the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) program.   https://waltonso.org/news/feed/ Read More

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING – OCTOBER 17, 2022 Posted on October 11, 2022 NOTICE OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING NEGOTIATIONS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC A collective bargaining negotiation meeting is scheduled to be held Monday, October 17, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. (CST) at the Walton County Sheriff’s Office north administration building in DeFuniak Springs. The purpose of this meeting is collective bargaining between Walton County Sheriff’s Office and the Professional Firefighters of Walton County, Local 4413, International Association of Fire Fighters. The meeting will be held in the cypress room at 752 Triple G Road, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433.   The Walton County Sheriff adheres to the Americans with Disabilities Act and will make reasonable modifications for access to these meetings upon request. Requests may be made to the Human Resources Manager at 850-892-8111 x.3215 at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.   https://waltonso.org/news/feed/ Read More