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Government Calendar

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The following public meetings are scheduled Feb. 10-14:

 

Monday

 

What: Panama City Planning Board meeting

When: 4 p.m.

Where: Panama City City Hall,

9 Harrison Ave
.

 

 

 

Tuesday

 

What: Bay County Tourist Development Council meeting

When: 9 a.m.

Where: PCB City Hall, 110 S. Arnold Road

 

———

 

What: Panama City Commission meeting

When: 8 a.m.

Where: Panama City City Hall,

9 Harrison Ave
.

 

———

 

What: Panama City Community Redevelopment Agency meeting

When: immediately following commission meeting

Where: Panama City City Hall,

9 Harrison Ave
.

———

 

What: Lynn Haven Community Redevelopment Agency meeting

When: 3:30 p.m.

Where: Lynn Haven City Hall,

825 Ohio Ave
.

———

 

What: Lynn Haven Commission meeting

When: 4 p.m.

Where: Lynn Haven City Hall,

825 Ohio Ave
.

———

 

 

 

Thursday

 

What: Panama City Port Authority

When: 3 p.m.

Where: Port Authority Building, 5321 W. Highway 98

 

———

 

What: Panama City Beach Council

When: 6 p.m.

Where: PCB City Hall, 110 S. Arnold Road

———

 

What: Panama City Code Enforcement Board hearings

When: 2:30 p.m.

Where: Panama City City Hall,

9 Harrison Ave
.

 


Kotsenburg uses a new trick to take first gold of Sochi Olympics

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KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia (AP) — Sage Kotsenburg loves snowboarding for all its unexpected surprises.

Winning the first Olympic gold medal in slopestyle, for one.

And winning it with one trick he'd never tried before and another that included a self-invented grab of the board he named the “Holy Crail.”

The 20-year-old American jetted off the first big jump of the slopestyle course Saturday and whirled around for 3 1/2 rotations while flipping twice. All the while, he was grabbing the front of his board with one hand and the nose of the board with the other.

At the bottom, he helicoptered through 4 1/2 rotations, while grabbing his board and flexing it behind his back.

“Never even tried it before,” Kotsenburg said. “Never, ever tried it in my life.”

Kotsenburg landed both jumps cleanly. The fans in the mostly full stands, knowing they had seen something completely different in a completely new Olympic sport, let out a huge gasp after the second one.

On the strength of those tricks — the Cab Double Cork 1260 with a Holy Crail grab and a Back 1620 Japan Air — the kid from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, known as “Second Run Sage,” posted a winning score of 93.5 on his first run.

Nobody in the 12-man field of finalists could top him. Kotsenburg put the first gold medal of the Sochi Games into the “USA” column. Soon after, he and the other medalists, Staale Sandbech of Norway and Mark McMorris of Canada, were hugging, body-slamming and turning their sport's “Kiss and Cry” zone into a mosh pit.

“I kind of do random stuff all the time, never make a plan up,” Kotsenburg said. “I had no idea I was even going to do a 1620 in my run until three minutes before I dropped. It's kind of what I'm all about.”

Kotsenburg's jumps were the high point of yet another sunny, windless day at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park. Combining all that, along with a bit of half-expected, half-legitimate griping about the judging, made it easy to forget that Shaun White had pulled out of this event before qualifying, complaining about the toughness of the course.

White, one of the most cutting-edge innovators in the game, was practicing on the halfpipe below when Kotsenburg landed the 1620 Japan Air.

Despite the excitement of that trick, there was some head-scratching going on elsewhere.

Sandbech, McMorris and Winter X Games champion Max Parrot were among those who threw the much-ballyhooed triple cork, which is three head-over-heels flips — considered way more dangerous and athletic and presumed to be the must-have trick to win the first Olympic gold in this sport's history.

Kotsenburg never tried one.

There are, of course, seven or eight tricks in every run — boxes to jump on, rails to ride over and even the option to jump over the giant Russian nesting doll near the top of the course. Splashes and bobbles on any of them can cost precious points.

But rider after rider came off the course and concluded that Kotsenburg's win symbolized a shift in the sport; that judges are looking for more technical moves with so-called style rather than a simple gymnastics meet on the snow.

“I think definitely Mark and Staale did some runs that should've scored higher. Sage had some really creative stuff. But whatever,” said Canada's Sebastien Toutant, who finished ninth. “They're all homeys. They deserved it. The sport is getting judged by humans and life goes on.”

Sandbech celebrated his clean triple cork at the bottom by swan diving into the snow.

The crowd loved it. The judges only gave it a 91.75.

“It was kind of hard from the start to know what the judges were awarding for,” he said.

As recently as a month ago, McMorris was considered a favorite to win the gold, whether White showed up at the contest or not.

But he broke a rib after slamming into a rail during the finals of the Winter X Games two weeks ago. There was some thought he'd wear a Kevlar vest to protect himself, but no.

He thought his run might get a higher mark than the 88.75 he received. Didn't happen.

Then, he was sure he'd been knocked off the podium when Parrot, also from Canada, went last and also landed the triple. Parrot finished fifth.

“If you ride the best you can ride, and you're satisfied with that, the rest is up to the judges,” McMorris said. “To be honest, that's the least of my worries. I'm just really, really thankful, from where I was two weeks ago, to be on the podium.”

Kotsenburg is, too.

When he was a kid, he went to snowboarding camp in Oregon and Mike Jankowski, the coach there and now the coach of the U.S. team, tried to coax kids away from the big features and over to the halfpipe, where the fundamentals are taught.

Wasn't so easy with this kid. He always wanted to do the jumps.

“For Sage, that's what he's about,” Jankowski said. “It's keeping snowboarding fun, whether the judges like his run, whether he gets a high score or a low score.”

Baby hospitalized; poisoning suspected

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FREEPORT — A 4-month old baby who officials believe was poisoned was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola early Saturday.

According to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the baby was on a ventilator in ICU at midday Saturday.

WCSO and the Department of Children and Families responded to the Freeport home in reference to a baby boy  having breathing problems, WCSO said.

There was no word on whether authorities believe the poisoning was intentional or accidental. The Sheriff’s Office is investigating, and additional information will be released when available.

Blanton, Register in search of first wins as East coaches

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Thomas Register and Travis Blanton have the dubious distinction of being basketball coaches involved in each of the East’s three losses in the Halifax All-Star Classic.

They’re hoping that trend changes on April 5.

Both were chosen to coach the East boys in the 10th annual game to be held at the Billy Harrison Field House on the campus of Gulf Coast State College. Blanton is 0-2 in the series pitting some of the best senior prep basketball talent from 11 Panhandle counties. Register, a former GC assistant men’s coach, is 0-1 in his previous attempt at a victory.

The East boys, selected by The News Herald’s sports department, are 6-3 against teams from the West, selected by the Northwest Florida Daily News in Fort Walton Beach. The West won in 2006, ’08 and ’10 and the East has won the past three meetings.

Blanton, 47, entered this weekend in search of a District 1-4A title at Marianna. He’s guided the Bulldogs for 14 seasons and two Final Four appearances in 2008-09. He said he didn’t lose any sleep over his Halifax Classic defeats, but admitted it would be nice to record a win for bragging rights.

Blanton’s Halifax Classic debut came when the East had its only three-coach bench, as he joined Port St. Joe’s Derek Kurnitksy and Ponce de Leon’s Stacey Stafford in 2006. The West edged the East 99-95 that year in what was only one of two games where both teams scored 90 points or more. Blanton returned in 2008 and joined Rutherford’s Rhondie Ross in a 96-74 loss, which remains the largest margin of victory on the boys side.

Register becomes the first East coach to have been at two different high schools. He’s currently in his first season at Vernon after leading Graceville for two years before spending one at Wallace-Hanceville (Ala.) Community College. He paired with Franklin County’s Fred Drake in the 2010 Halifax Classic with the East falling 93-72, which was the second-largest margin of victory in the series.

East girls coaches will be selected and announced in the coming weeks. The first round of East boys and girls player selections also are on the horizon and the full 12-player rosters for the East and West will be released in early March.

Player nominations are being accepted. Area coaches in the East coverage area are asked to send player name, position, height, statistics and other pertinent information to Brad Milner at The News Herald via email at bmilner@pcnh.com or by calling 850-747-5065.

Halifax Media Group and its two Florida daily newspapers, The News Herald and the Northwest Florida Daily News, again are lead sponsors along with GCSC. Additional sponsorship is provided by the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Any individual or business with a desire to sponsor the event may contact GCSC Athletic Marketing Representative Teresa Beaver at 850-769-1551 ext. 2813 or Milner, News Herald Writer Jason Shoot (jshoot@pcnh.com; 850-747-5067) or Executive Sports Editor Pat McCann (pmccann@pcnh.com; 850-747-5068). The event accepts any and all levels of sponsorships, from monetary support to in-kind donations.

Chamber partners with Google Street View Indoors

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PANAMA CITY — A new online tool is giving consumers a 360-degree view inside businesses, no matter where they are.

Through a partnership with Google Street View Indoors, the Bay County Chamber of Commerce is encouraging members of the local business community to give it a shot.

“It’s just like

Google St
reet View, but it brings users inside a business,” said Brittany Cole, chamber vice president of communications. “We’re encouraging members to sign up for it and to use it as a tool for their business to get more people in the door.”

Cole said the tool can be especially useful to showcase event venues and restaurants, but can benefit any business trying to drive customers through its doors. 

“It gets people in the door, which is what we want,” she said. “We want to give them a way to better reach out to the community.”

The technology uses images captured by Google-certified photographers to provide a “virtual tour” via Google Maps. It is smartphone and tablet-friendly and can easily be placed on a business’s website or social media pages.

The annual price for participation starts at $300 and increases based on the number of “viewpoints” desired.

The starting price includes three viewpoints, the next 12 viewpoints are $50 each and viewpoints 16 and up are $30 each.  A scholarship program is available for small businesses that can’t afford the fee, Cole said.

The partnership gives the chamber a percentage of the fee for each member that signs up through the organization’s recommendation.

Though the partnership just launched, Cole said the chamber has already received positive feedback from the local business community about the growing technology.

“Chambers across the U.S. are joining in this program,” Cole said. “We’ve had a good response so far.”  

MORE INFORMATION

City candidate qualifying begins Monday

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PANAMA CITY -- Municipal candidate qualifying for the 2014 elections will be from noon Monday until noon Friday at the Bay County Supervisor of Elections Office,

830 W. 11th St., Panama City
.

Offices up for election include Callaway mayor and city commissioners for wards 1, 2 and 3, Mexico City Council members for groups 2, 4 and 5, Panama City Beach City Council members for wards 1 and 3 and Springfield City Commissioners for wards 1 and 2.

The elections will be April 22.

For more information contact the Bay County Supervisor of Elections Office at 784-6100.

 

 

Free dental services to be offered for children

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PANAMA CITY — Kids can get their teeth examined and cleaned for free at an upcoming dental event.

In observance of National Children’s Dental Health Month, dental exams, cleanings, oral hygiene instruction and necessary x-rays will be available for free to children ages 3 to 12 at Kids Klinic, an annual dental hygiene celebration at

Gulf Coast St
ate College from Feb. 17-19.

The event, hosted by the Student American Dental Hygienist’s Association at the college, aims at raising awareness about oral health and provides free dental services at no cost to families, according to a college news release.

“Basic prevention is the key to reducing chronic dental disease,” Laura Justice, dental program coordinator at the college. “And we are so pleased to be able to offer this service to the community.”

Services will be scheduled based on availability; appointments may be lengthy, the release stated. A parent or guardian must accompany the child during the entire visit.

Call Debbie Pringle at 850-872-3833 for more information and to set up an appointment. 

WANT TO GO?

-What: Free dental services for children

-When: Feb. 17-19

-Where: 

Gulf Coast St
ate College

-Why: National Children’s Dental Health Month

-Details: Call 872-3833 for an appointment or more information.

Man wanted in kidnapping, beating arrested

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BONIFAY — A man wanted for the violent kidnapping and beating of a Chipley woman was arrested Saturday night while eating in a Bonifay restaurant.

Christopher Cruz Walley, 26, of Corbin Road, Chipley, was captured at about 7 p.m., according to the  Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

Bonifay police, working off a tip received by WCSO Tips Line, verified that a stolen vehicle Walley was believed to be traveling in was parked at the Pho Noodle & Kaboodle (Old Simbos Restaurant) in Bonifay. Officers entered the restaurant and took Walley, who was eating, into custody without incident, WCSO said.

Walley was charged with aggravated battery, kidnapping/false imprisonment and grand theft.

Walley is suspected of administering an unprovoked beating Wednesday night that left a woman unconscious, then putting her in the trunk of an Oldsmobile and driving around throughout the night and into the next day. The woman came to and was able to use the vehicle’s trunk release lever to open the trunk and escape to a nearby home. She hospitalized in critical condition.

“We could not be more grateful to our staff and assisting agencies who have worked tirelessly on the apprehension of Christopher Cruz Walley,” Sheriff Bobby Haddock said. “We are so proud of our local residents who came together and assisted with invaluable tips and leads. This is the result of what happens when law enforcement and the community work together. This was a violent attack on a member of our community and we were committed to ensuring he answered for those crimes.”


Danger grazes along Panhandle roads // DOCUMENT

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PANAMA CITY — Mike Seiler peered through the rural darkness on an eventful autumn night, headed home to Panama City. He and his wife, Nancy, zipped along State 79 near Vernon, returning from an Alabama pilgrimage.

Bam! Out of nowhere something slammed into his gold 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara SUV, jarring the vehicle and shocking his senses.

“It was a total surprise,” the 66-year-old disabled Vietnam veteran said.

A white-tailed deer’s head had bashed in the SUV’s front-left corner, knocking out a headlight and leaving a gash above the tire. Seiler never saw it and said the deer must have been running full-stride. The force of impact slung the animal into his door, denting it — and then the deer darted off.

It was about 10 p.m. Seiler pulled into a nearby gas station and surveyed the damage by the light. He got back behind the wheel and drove the rest of the way home with one headlight and a scraping tire. The repair would cost $2,800.

“It made me sorry we had a $500 deductible,” he said.

The experience was more shocking than scary, he said; it was totally unexpected.

But perhaps Seiler — a deer-crash veteran — shouldn’t have been surprised. Before retiring, he drove a semi-truck for McKenzie Tank Lines, hauling petroleum and, occasionally, thumping deer. Unlike the SUV, though, the deer he hit in the semi-truck didn’t leave such an impression.

“You don’t even notice them in that” truck, he said.

Once a deer ripped the front bumper off his semi-truck when he collided with it on State 388, between State 77 and U.S. 231 about two or three years ago. That one also kept running.

His latest experience made him more cautious when driving rural state roads, more alert to the docile, wide-eyed creatures he sees along State 20, State 81 and U.S. 331. He’s concerned by their numbers and said the population may be too large in the Panhandle, a place where hundreds of others have similar experiences each year, according to state crash data.

“I would guess there’s too many, and I always worry about one coming through the windshield,” Seiler said.

 

Frequent accidents

Seiler’s experience isn’t an anomaly. Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. J.D. Johnson oversees a six-county district that averages more than four animal-related crashes a week in the Panhandle. The district includes Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson and Washington counties.

“Deer, hogs and bears … that’s what these people run over most of the time,” Johnson said.

It’s mostly deer, though, a problem that plagues his rural counties — essentially the entire district except for southern Bay.

Jackson County had the most accidents by far, totaling more than 100 annually for the last three years on record, according to FHP data.

Johnson said deer are constantly getting hit. Sometimes they graze along the roadside and cross in a car’s path; other times they happen to be running and hit the road at the wrong time. During the winter hunting season, dogs catch their scent and flush them out into traffic.

“I’ve been on (the force) for 30 years, and it’s been a continuous problem,” Johnson said.

His troopers work nearly all crashes in the district, one where animal accidents are prevalent. In more developed parts of the state, such as South Florida, deer-vehicle collisions are less of an issue. Locals, familiar with the grazing deer and the occasional accident, tolerate the risk, but tourists are less understanding, Johnson said.

“They have a tendency to say, ‘Well, I didn’t even realize that deer was a problem,’ ” he said.

Johnson tells them to be happy it isn’t a northeastern deer, which can weigh 200 to 300 pounds, significantly larger than the local white-tailed deer, which are lucky to crack 100 pounds.

No fool-proof method exists to avoid the deer, but ways exist to mitigate risk, Johnson said. Drivers should avoid speeding and use high-beam lights where possible, he said.

But that’s still no guarantee.

“Is it preventable? I haven’t seen one that’s preventable yet … when a deer decides to run out in the road,” Johnson said.

 

Deer management

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) oversees the state’s deer, but car wrecks aren’t the driving force behind population management. The state is “always concerned” about deer’s negative impacts, said Cory Morea, FWC’s deer management program coordinator, but that includes depredation — eating crops, destroying property — not injuries and death from vehicle crashes.

Morea pointed to a 2002 survey, where FWC asked if residents were involved in deer-vehicle wrecks, as evidence the state took an interest in the problems. The survey also asked about other negative deer impacts.

The state official downplayed the crash problems, however, citing a State Farm insurance study that ranked Florida as one of the safest states for such wrecks. Florida drivers were the 46th most likely to be in a deer-vehicle crash, having only a 1-in-971 chance of hitting a deer during a year, according to the report. Alabama ranked 20th, where drivers had a 1-in-131 chance of hitting a deer annually.

Morea, however, acknowledged the Panhandle has the most deer-vehicle wrecks and deer depredation problems. He said he didn’t know how the Panhandle would fare if it were isolated from the rest of Florida and compared to the other states.

“It’s difficult to say for sure,” he said, adding, “Florida — from a deer-vehicle collision standpoint — is a very safe state to drive in. Now, are there pockets where deer-vehicle collisions can be up? Sure.”

State Farm’s most recent data, though, predicted deer-vehicle crashes would increase by 21 percent from 2005-06.

Morea said FWC isn’t considering any plans or policies to reduce the risk of deer-vehicle collisions. He said the state can do little outside of population management and encouraging driver safety.

“They’re wild animals and they roam, and a lot of times there’s good forage along the roadsides, and so that can oftentimes create a situation where a lot of deer can be seen along the roadside and some of those get hit,” he said.

FWC stays on top of the negative deer impacts, talking to hunters and farmers, and tweaking bag limits and hunting seasons based on the feedback about every five years, Morea said.

He touted a current plan to divide the Panhandle’s Zone D along Interstate 10 and manage each side’s deer population differently.

Morea said the statewide deer population has been “relatively stable” or even shrinking in recent years. Droughts cut the number of fawn births, and illness — hemorrhagic disease and bluetongue virus — thinned the herd in 2012 and 2013.

Over the last two decades, the deer population grew, but Morea said he didn’t know by what percent.

 

I-10 fences

For years, the state traffic agency has employed its own strategy to limit deer-vehicle crashes. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) erected wildlife fencing along I-10, keeping deer and other wild animals off most of the busy freeway. The fence includes openings, though, so the deer’s movement throughout the region isn’t totally impeded.

The state doesn’t block off the entire roadway and cut the deer off from roaming; instead, it wants to force them to cross at the safest possible locations, said Ian Satter, FDOT spokesman.

“Those fences actually funnel them to one specific point,” he said.

The access points have optimal visibility for drivers, giving them the best possible chance to react if deer are on the highway, Satter said.

The fencing runs along both sides of the interstate, and in urban areas sound walls keep the deer off the road. In other parts of the state, FDOT dug tunnels so alligators could pass without problems, Satter said.

Across the Panhandle, fencing or sound walls flank I-10 from the state line past Tallahassee to its eastern border. The bulk of the approximately 250-mile stretch is rural, and the cost is significant.

For example, a recent Holmes County repaving project included 24 miles of replacement fence, costing $7.28 a linear foot. Based on that price, fencing along both sides of the entire I-10 stretch of the Panhandle would be about $19 million. Sound walls, of course, would be more expensive.

“The wildlife fences are put into place because we do have these rural areas along I-10,” Satter said. “Anything we can do to make the roads safer … that’s our number one priority.”

 

STEM building funding faces hurdles

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PANAMA CITY — Though a local lawmaker has talked to the governor until he’s “blue in the face,” Gulf Coast State College may have an uphill battle to fund a new STEM building.

Gov. Rick Scott unveiled his 2013-14 budget recently, which carried no specific dollars for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) construction projects at state colleges. Last year, the governor vetoed $14 million for a new Gulf Coast STEM building.

Scott’s current proposal includes $20 million to fund new state college STEM buildings — $20 million more than last year’s proposal — but names no schools or buildings. If the Legislature includes the appropriation in its final budget, Gulf Coast will be competing against 27 other state colleges for the money.

At 55 years old, the current STEM building is “outdated” and “unsafe,” said Jim Kerley, the school’s president. The $20 million wouldn’t be “very much” to go around, though the project would qualify for funding, he said.

Kerley described the new facility as the college’s “missing piece.” He said the labs are essential for science education and other hands-on learning that can’t be done online.

The Bay District School Board and superintendents for the Gulf and Franklin County school districts endorsed the project. The Bay County Chamber of Commerce also listed it as a “top three project” for growing the area’s STEM-related jobs, Kerley said.

“I’m very optimistic we’ll still get something,” he said.

 

‘I’ll look at it’

But Kerley doesn’t have the governor’s ear. He hasn’t spoken with Scott since he visited in July and toured the college’s Advanced Technology Center. Kerley said he pleaded his case during the tour and the governor “seemed open,” asking for more information.

The governor hasn’t taken a position on the building, though, aside from vetoing the $14 million last year. After the tour in July, he dodged questions on future funding, saying only, “I’ll look at it.”

In response to an interview request Friday, the governor’s press office passed off questions to the Division of Colleges, which offered no position on the building.

“While we do not have a list of individual STEM construction priorities, Gov. Scott is completely committed to investing in this important area,” the statement from the Division of Colleges said.

State Rep. Jimmy Patronis, however, is close to Scott and in tune with his thought process. He said Scott takes a private-sector approach when spending public dollars and is interested in the metrics — return on investment, jobs created and student population increases.

Patronis, R-Panama City, was skeptical about using the same tactics as last year, when the Senate’s initial budget carried only $300,000 for the building, but then the funding ballooned to $14 million in the budget conference committee, after Senate President Don Gaetz, whose district includes Panama City, inserted the last-minute money.

“I’ve talked to (Scott) until I’m blue in the face about it both last year and educating him (on) it this year,” Patronis said, but the governor, “as he should,” won’t commit.

It’s too early in the legislative process for the governor to take a position because other more pressing statewide issues may crowd it out, Patronis said.

“He’s playing it safe,” he said.

 

Grassroots approach?

Faculty, teachers and students can send letters and make phone calls to the governor’s office and try to convince him the project is worthwhile; locals would be surprised how seriously the executive office takes grassroots support, Patronis said.

“The governor doesn’t like making anybody upset. The Legislature doesn’t like making anybody upset. … We like to make people happy. You add that on top of an election year; we really want to make people happy,” said Patronis, who is term-limited in 2014.

Patronis also said Gaetz, R-Niceville, is the “key player” to land the funding again because he sets the Senate agenda. Gaetz could not be reached for comment Friday.

Landing the funding could be Kerley’s last major accomplishment at Gulf Coast. He’s set to retire at the end of July, having served as president since 2007. A second and final governor’s rebuff could be frustrating.

“I just don’t see how you can miss our need here of [replacing a] 55-year-old facility that’s totally outdated. … It’s a foundation for all our courses and programs,” he said. 

Coyotes are a fact of life, and pet owners should be wary

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PANAMA CITY BEACH — Out West, they’re so common that the locals call them “dogs,” but in these parts they’re still known as coyotes.“They’re in the canine family,” explained Stan Kirkland, a spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. “They have filled a niche left by the absence of the red wolf. But it’s one thing to recognize coyotes have moved throughout eastern North America. It’s another to realize they’re in people’s back yards and how to deal with them.”
The scientific name of the coyote, Canis latrans, literally means “barking dog.” Originally indigenous to the western states, coyotes have spread throughout the U.S., with reported populations thriving from Maine to southern Florida. They feed mostly on small animals — rats, birds, rabbits, lizards and so forth — but also are known to eat roadkill or from garbage bins, fallen fruit and berries, and to prey upon farm animals and domesticated pets.
“There’s evidence of them having eaten deer, usually in conjunction with hunting season — deer that were shot and not recovered by the hunter, or from hunters leaving behind remains of field-dressed deer,” Kirkland said. “They’re also pretty efficient predators on fawns in the summer months, when they’re first born.”
Coyotes are found in several habitat types and are common in rural, suburban and even some urban landscapes. According to a 2007 FWC report, coyotes have been documented in all 67 Florida counties.
“The important thing is recognizing that they are out there,” said Terry Doonan, Regional Species Conservation Biologist for the FWC. “Coyotes are pretty smart animals. They learn where to look for food. If people are leaving pet food outside, for instance, it increases the chance of coyotes being around.”
Encounters between people and coyotes in Florida are occurring more often, as outlined in a recent FWC brochure. Coyotes that have become used to people might lose some fear, so sightings during the day might increase. Coyotes also become more difficult to scare away if they lose their fear of people.
Kirkland spotted a coyote some years ago on the Gulf Coast State College campus in Panama City, early one morning near the baseball field. Others have reported seeing coyotes in daylight off 23rd Street in Panama City, near the intersection of Baldwin Road and State 77, in the Delwood Drive area of Panama City Beach, crossing Thomas Drive at the Signal Hill Golf Course, and in Lynn Haven.
Coyotes are active day or night, but usually most active at sunset and sunrise. And as their numbers increase in urban and suburban neighborhoods, their appetites have claimed numerous pets. Kirkland said a study of coyotes fixed with radio transmitters in Arizona showed that about 50 percent of all coyote interactions with house cats ended in the death of the cat.
“As they set up shop in an area and their numbers expand, there’s no question that they will prey on housecats,” Kirkland said. “There’s nothing you can do. If you value your cat, don’t let it outdoors.”
In the past year, cats have been found decapitated or otherwise mutilated in the Bay Point area off Panama City Beach, as well as the Carolina Avenue area in Lynn Haven. Police said a witness to a fatal attack on a pet cat in Lynn Haven identified the suspect as a coyote, and in January, analysts with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) used DNA tests to link the Bay Point cat deaths to a coyote.
“We’ve got a bad coyote problem,” Lynn Haven Police Chief David Messer said at the time. “It’s hard to do anything about them because there’s no predator for them. You can trap them, but you’ve got to use live bait, and nobody wants to do that.”
Messer also said the best thing a pet owner could do to protect his pets is “bring them in at night.”
“People often let their cats run at night, and a cat is not too much different from other small animals to a coyote,” Doonan said.
In the western United States, coyotes are the main predator of domestic sheep, causing significant losses. They also can prey upon goats, calves, hogs, poultry — and watermelons. They are not a threat to human safety, officials said, and are normally timid toward people.
Pet owners who allow their small dogs and cats only into a fenced yard are less likely to lose them to predators. But ranchers have found that woven or welded wire fences should be at least 4 feet high with barbed wire above for a total minimum height of 5 feet in order to exclude coyotes.
A well-maintained fence might assist in keeping coyotes out of yards, according to FWC materials. If pets are kept in a fenced yard, be sure the fence is high enough to prevent coyotes from jumping over it. Also, check the bottom of the fence regularly to make sure there are no holes that would allow coyotes to get underneath. Consider adding an electrified fence if you think additional protection is needed.
“There’s no getting rid of them. They’re here to stay,” Kirkland said. “Texas has tried for something like 200 years to get rid of them.”
Seeing a coyote in your area should not be a cause for concern because coyotes are common and will continue to exist near humans, officials said. However, if a coyote has lost its fear of humans or continues to be a problem, lethal control measures might be necessary. Such methods should be directed at specific coyotes or toward coyotes in a specific area.
There is no closed season on coyotes in Florida. Legal methods of take are by gun, bow or snare. Steel traps can be used only by special FWC permit, and use of poisons to kill coyotes is illegal.
“We’re not trying to ask people to change everything they do to account for wildlife,” Doonan said. “It’s important for people to understand how wildlife behaves so they can avoid encounters with animals they don’t want to deal with.”
You can report a coyote encounter or attack to the FWC by calling the regional office in Panama City at 265-3676, or by calling Wildlife Alert at 888-404-3922. The USDA Wildlife Services also can provide assistance with nuisance wildlife trapping; call 866-487-3297.

 

Keep your pets safe
Coyotes can and do prey on domestic cats and small dogs. Don’t allow pets to roam freely. Most coyote attacks on pets occur either at night, at dusk or dawn. If walking your dog in wooded areas or in heavily foliaged areas where coyotes could hide, keep your dog close, on a short leash. Keep cats indoors.
Coyotes also are attracted by garbage. Remove attractants (such as pet food that is served in dishes outdoors) and secure garbage cans and compost in animal-proof containers. Clean up fallen fruit from trees, and seed from around bird feeders.
Don’t try to pet a coyote. Teach children not to approach any unfamiliar animal. But don’t let coyotes intimidate you; you can frighten them away by making loud noises and acting aggressively, such as waving your arms in the air, throwing sticks or spraying it with a hose. Don’t attempt to injure it, however, because injured animals are more likely to attack.
You also might want to carry something that will make noise to scare the animal, such as a small air horn, a big water pistol, a solid walking stick, golf club or paintball gun. Make a “coyote shaker” by putting a few washers, pebbles or pennies into an empty soft drink can.
Be aware of unusual coyote behavior: approaching people, stalking pets, chasing joggers or bikers, or attacking leashed pets. This could indicate a diseased animal.
Close off crawl spaces under porches and sheds. Check fences for gaps or places where an animal has dug under the fence.
If you are experiencing coyote problems, contact FWC’s Wildlife Alert at 888-404-3922 or your nearest FWC regional office (in the Panama City area, that’s 265-3676).
Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the University of Florida
 

Out of the Past: He got engaged on a ‘cheerless, bitter cold afternoon’

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EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the ninth and last article in a series of articles from an old Apalachicola diary.

Samuel E. Floyd, a log and timber inspector of Franklin County, continues:
Aug. 20th — weather is excessively hot. Mrs. Goodlet’s grapes are nearly gone.
29th — Bought a powder flask system and ordered a shot pouch through John Ruge. Lew is much improved. Cribbage is the most popular game for evening pastimes just now. It will probably die out in a week or so. Received nothing by mail.
Received a pair of embroidered slippers. Miserable shoot, killed 3. My health is much better improved lately. Had dinner yesterday; Miss Fannie was saying she disliked to whip Sam Hamilton (her nephew). Sam screams so that all the neighbors think he is being half killed when he is not being touched. “What is the hell so you care what your neighbors think?” asked old Goodlet. I heard Sam, lad of about 12, say “I’ll be dog gone if I don’t” without being rebuked. August farewell! Unanimously hot. Mosquitoes, grapes and prickly heat are the staple products.
September 1872
Sept. 1 — Hail September, month of breezes, cooler nights and leaf scarred trees, bluer skies, bright gleaming flowers. Alas! Alas!
15th — first recording since 1st. Went up Sircey’s aboard the Ella on Wednesday. Returned Thursday p.m. had a very disagreeable time — shot a few alligators. Cut my hand badly yesterday with a jack plain. I am building a boat. Daniels & Co. went down to St. Vincent’s Island last night to search for smuggled goods. Unsuccessful.
22nd — Will be three weeks since last mail owing to a great hole made in the St. Clair ‘s bottom by a snag. The Farley came down on Thursday morning 19th bringing Messers. Call, Jones, Balston, Night, Hall and Purnall. Political questions were discussed in the a.m.
October 1872
October — fairest month of all the year. Leaf, fruit, flowers, grass and blossoms are dead, dying all around. What rhymes with blossoms? Aha? Opossums — in greatest member here abound. The presidential campaign absorbs all minor topics of interest and is the prevailing theme of talk. Much time spent on my boat.
12th — went over to Cat Point a day or two since, killing nothing worth mentioning. Went out about 11 o’c and got five doves and two thrush. They are yet quite scarce.
13th — I christened the Fanny my boat this a.m. and was entirely set off satisfied with her performance. She is 26 feet long with the widest part 6 feet, 18 inches wide at bottom and 30 inches at gunwales, has a skeg on bow and stern. I painted (it) green on bottom and sides with red stripe around molding red. Lead color. Deck light pink inside. Named in honor of Miss Fannie Goodlet. Escorted Miss Fannie to mill to see her namesake perform.
14th — Dr. Lewis came over via St. Marks last eve. Reports that Pennsylvania and Ohio for Grant. We had our first cold snap today in the business. Pleasant and everything looks responsible with a perfect glory of sunlight.
29th — Have been very ill for several days. Weather is fine — cool and clear. Tripler and his hands are busy at work making a foundation to build this mill. Florence King has returned from St. George’s Light whither she has been for several days.
Cottrell left on Sunday morning for Chipola River aboard the tug Ella to negotiate with
partner for logs for the coming season. Wentworth made me a very good fit on the last boots.
31St — the tug Ella returned today. I am still feeling badly from the effects of recent illness. November
Nov. 6th — yesterday we had the election for president and various state officers. I believe I have mentioned elsewhere that I was appointed as one of the inspectors — William Baker and Emanual Smith being the other two. The election was conducted with impartial fairness and good order. There was not a single case of intoxication about the polls. The Democrats carried.
22nd — Received letter from Jim Bourke and also my wedding suit. On Thursday Eve ensuing (28th) is to be the time. It will be a very matter-of-fact affair. Thursday is set aside by the government for general Thanksgiving. I became engaged on the 15th day of Nov. 1871 to Miss Theresa Pohlman. I shall not soon forget that cheerless, bitter cold afternoon. It was nearly dark and we had nearly reached her uncle’s house when I asked and was accepted.
25th — Last night while at Mrs. Pohlman’s I heard her dog barking in the back yard and was requested to ascertain the cause — I went back and discovered that it was under the steps of the back piazza — I soon pulled away the steps and there stood a huge old boar opossum at bay. Got Murat’s dog and between the two dogs, the possum was soon brought to quarters under the front porch where he was soon captured. I expect to have a grand feast upon him. Madam had 8 or 10 of her finest hens captured by him.
29th — a glorious day, bright and warm. It is now 5 o/c p.m. and I am about to prepare for that all important/occasion to take place this eve. Have been busy all the forenoon attending to my duties about the mill. Mill not working, being Thanksgiving.

The 1880 Federal Decennial Census for Franklin County showed the Floyds living in Apalachicola: Samuel A. Floyd, 34, Theresa, 25, Augusta R., 8, Charles H, 5, and Carolina, 1.
The 1900 federal Decennial Census showed the Floyds living in Apalachicola: Samuel A. Floyd, 54, Teresa N., 45, Harry B. Floyd, 24, Carrie B. Floyd, 21, Mordina C., 17, and Teresa, 14.
 

P.C. attorney wants $300,000 retainer

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PANAMA CITY — Nearly a half-million dollars is set aside for legal services in Panama City, and commissioners Tuesday morning will be looking to gain control of how much will be spent.

City Attorney Nevin Zimmerman, along with members of the Burke & Blue law firm, has proposed a retainer of $300,000 a year to cover the services described in his contract with the city. However, if the firm is inflexible on the price, some commissioners have said they will be looking for new legal counsel.

Zimmerman justified the expense, telling commissioners in a letter it would allow city officials to feel comfortable with contacting him to catch legal issues on the “front end” of litigation.

“Investing more money in your city attorney at the ‘front end’ of legal issues is seen as more cost effective than spending money on attorneys after litigation has been filed,” Zimmerman wrote.

He included a 2013 article in Quality Cities Magazine titled “City Attorneys: A Valuable Resource,” and offered commissioners a second option of continuing an hourly billing agreement at $250 an hour.

Panama City spent about $335,000 on average for total legal services in 2011 and 2012, with $184,092 going to former City Attorney Rowlett Bryant, according to city clerk records. In 2013, while $306,951 went to legal fees, the bills from Zimmerman for April to

November totaled $173,677 — averaging about $22,000 a month.

Commissioner John Kady wanted that number down to $15,000 a month or less.

“That’s $120,000 a year more than we have been paying and it is something I don’t think is acceptable,” Kady said. “And, if you look at what we were paying Rowlett, that was including litigation.”

The retainer only covers work outlined by Zimmerman’s service agreement. Bond work and special projects the commission approved in advance would be billed to the city hourly. Zimmerman also offered a retainer from the general fund with work done on the part of the Panama City Police Department, Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and Community Development departments billed hourly from the respective departments professional services accounts.

Kady disagreed the availability of legal counsel to city officials saved the city money in the long run, saying the city staff is competent to handle situations themselves.

“Every time I go to the gym I’d love to have a cardiologist right next to me, but I can’t afford it and I have to rely on my common sense,” he said. “… We’re at a decision point of whether we continue the current relationship we have or go out to recompete it and get some better value for the city.”

Commissioners will convene the public meeting Tuesday at 8 a.m. in City Hall immediately followed by the CRA board meeting.
Commissioners also are scheduled to consider:

— A CRA roof grant of $112,300 for the Buccaneer Beach Motel, Bar & Grill, 711 W. Beach Drive, and a development agreement for 117 condominium units on the property.

— Allocating $35,000 to a residential grant program to repair deteriorated housing in the Downtown North CRA.

— A CRA demolition grant of $1,430 at 514 Maple Ave.

— A PCPD presentation to the CRA regarding new software to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of code enforcement.

— Vacating a portion of alley near First Baptist Church of Panama City, 640 Grace Ave.
 

Banker argues evidence is unfair

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PANAMA CITY — A former executive at a failed bank is pushing back against prosecutors who want to show a jury evidence of misconduct, arguing the government can’t prove the allegations, and even if it could the evidence would only confuse and prejudice jurors.

Attorneys for Donald Terry Dubose, who is charged along with Frank Banker and Elwood West with fraud for allegedly ripping off the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), filed a response to Assistant U.S. Attorney Gayle Littleton’s notice that she plans to show jurors evidence Dubose lied in order to convince a pair of local investors to buy shares in his failing bank to avoid personal losses.

Littleton contends Dubose knew regulators were about to clamp down on Coastal Community Investments, a holding company for Coastal Community Bank and Bayside Savings Bank, so he lied to sell his daughter’s shares in the company and recover the money he lent her to buy it.

Dubose is not charged with any crime stemming from the allegations in Littleton’s filing, but Littleton argues she needs the evidence to show Dubose and the other bankers purposely committed fraud against the government. Dubose contends Littleton has an ulterior motive: to paint Dubose as a liar in one instance so jurors will find it probable he lied to the FDIC.

The evidence is intended to prove Dubose’s character, he argues, not his intent to defraud the FDIC’s Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program (TLGP), which was created to reassure lenders who were hesitant to make loans to each other during the collapse of the financial system.

“There is substantial risk that the jury will draw impermissible character inferences from the evidence — i.e., once a liar, always a liar,” attorney Claire Rauscher wrote.

Part of the problem with Littleton’s assertion that Dubose lied to sell shares and avoid personal losses is that she can’t prove it, Rauscher wrote.

Littleton alleges Dubose lied when he said a “retired old lady,” not his daughter, was trying to sell her shares, but the only evidence Dubose knew that was a lie is that the shares that eventually changed hands didn’t come from a retired old lady, Rauscher argues. Other people were interested in buying and selling shares in the bank too, including a man who wanted to sell shares his grandmother owned before her death.

“The elderly woman could have sold her shares to another buyer or could have decided not to sell,” Rauscher wrote.
Jurors will be confused by evidence and testimony about the uncharged allegations and including it will prolong any trial and force Dubose to mount a defense to evidence of conduct that he is not charged with, Rauscher wrote.

Dubose, Baker and West are scheduled for trial beginning Feb. 24, and a pretrial hearing is scheduled for Feb. 18. They are each charged with conspiracy to defraud the FDIC, seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of lying to the FDIC and aiding and abetting a false claim against the United States. They have pleaded not guilty.
 

5 killed in wrong way crash in southwest Florida

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TAMPA — Five people, including four fraternity brothers, died in a fiery, head-on collision on a southwest Florida highway early Sunday morning, according to Florida Highway Patrol officials.

The driver of an SUV was heading south in the northbound lanes of Interstate 275 in Tampa around 2 a.m. Sunday when the driver collided head-on with a Hyundai Sonata. Authorities say the SUV burst into flames and the driver died at the scene. FHP officials were still trying to identify the male victim late Sunday because of extensive injuries from the fire.

Sergeant Steve Gaskins said all four victims in the second car also died at the scene. They were members of the University of South Florida's fraternity Sigma Beta Rho. Authorities identified the victims as: Jobin Joy Kuriakose, 21, Ankeet Harshad Patel, 22, Imtiyaz Ilias, 20 and Dammie Yesudhas, 21.

Authorities said they are investigating whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash.
The highway was closed for several hours and re-opened around 7 a.m.
 


Bill could open door for state college sales tax

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TALLAHASSEE — Legislation is moving in Tallahassee that would open the door for counties to collect a half-cent sales tax to fund their local state college.

While currently tailored to Miami-Dade County, the bill (HB 113) would establish a method where a county could pass an ordinance by voter referendum to levy the tax. If passed, the college could use the revenue for curriculum, teaching tools, maintenance and renovations, new buildings and to buy adjacent property. The money would not be restricted to those uses, but the ordinance would outline how the money could be spent.

The referendum would only require a majority vote for approval, and the tax would expire after five years under a sunset provision.

“What I wanted to make sure of … [is] that this does not become like every other tax in the world — that once a tax becomes a tax it forever is a tax,” said Committee Chairman and bill sponsor Erik Fresen, R-Miami.

The House Education Committee passed the bill 17-1 last week.

The measure is nothing new; an identical bill moved through the House last year but did not become law. The legislation serves essentially as a response to the failed 2008 statewide voter referendum to allow counties to adopt a sales tax to fund their local colleges, Fresen said.

Under the bill, if the half-cent tax were passed by a county, the local state college would get 90 percent of the tax revenue and the local state university, if one exists, would get 10 percent. The State Board of Administration (SBA) would manage the funds.
The bill would not have an immediate impact in Bay County, but it could get the ball rolling for a future sales tax fight.
Gulf Coast State College would benefit from the tax, if one were ever implemented locally. The school’s president, though, said he didn’t see that happening.

“I just don’t believe the climate is right to bring that kind of tax in,” said Jim Kerley. “Maybe in the future that should be discussed, but at this particular point I don’t think so.”

Kerley said he and the other presidents of Florida’s 28 state colleges discussed the measure at a meeting last week.
The bill must still pass through the House Appropriations Committee before it goes to the floor.

Senate companion legislation (SB 66) also passed through a committee last week. That bill has three more committee stops before it heads to the Senate floor.
 

New mobile clinic hits PCB

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PANAMA CITY — It’s a clinic — on wheels.

A newly-built mobile clinic has hit the roads on the beach and there are plans to also serve rural areas that are inconveniently far from Florida Department of Health in Bay County on Eleventh Street. The clinic is contained in an RV and features two exam rooms.

“Based on a survey of our clinic last year, about a third of our patients are coming across the (Hathaway) bridge,” said health department administrator Doug Kent. “So, we’re hoping that we’ll be able to deal with that group of people across the bridge.”

Access to care is an issue that needs to be addressed, according to the Bay County Health Task Force, comprised of health care and education officials and members of the community, including the health department.

“It’s a long ways and a lot of people work everyday,” Kent said. “Sometimes it’ll be a lot easier to take off for an hour than it would to take of three or four hours.”

When parked in Youngstown, the clinic would allow people to have immediate access to care, Kent said. He said county officials also have raised concern about residents in the Fountain area. The community has no hospitals or health clinics.
The clinic also will assist patients during emergencies at the emergency shelter at Deane Bozeman School.

“Transportation is a problem,” Kent added. “We look forward to the outreach we can do.”

The clinic often is parked at Gulf Beach Baptist Church, 10620 Hutchison Blvd., and will service the beach only, for the time being, Kent said. Hours of operations for the mobile medical unit have yet to be established.
Services include: Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, immunizations, chronic disease screenings and management, HIV and Hepatitis testing.

The roughly $300,000 medical RV was built specifically for the health department and was funded with a community access grant.
 

'Lego Movie' opens with big $69.1M box office

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NEW YORK — "The Lego Movie" clicked with moviegoers, assembling an exceptional $69.1 million debut at the weekend box office, according to studio estimates.

The better-than-expected result made the Warner Bros. collaboration with the Danish toy company easily the biggest hit of the year so far. A sequel is already in development for the 3-D animated film, digitally drawn to mimic a world composed entirely of Lego bricks.

The film has drawn raves from critics. Co-directors and co-writers Phil Lord and Chris Miller ("21 Jump Street," ''Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs") gave the film a playful tone to capture the whimsy of a child playing in a box of Legos. Characters are largely voiced by comic actors like Will Ferrell and Chris Pratt.

The film marks the biggest animation hit for Warner Bros., a studio that despite popular live-action franchises has struggled to develop animated hits on par with other studios.

"I can't imagine this not turning into a long-term franchise," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for box-office tracker Rentrak. "This is such a runaway success that Warner Bros is now a major player in the animated genre."

Dan Fellman, head of distribution for Warner Bros., said the film, made with a production budget of $60 million, resounded because of the popularity of the Lego brand. This is the first feature film for the toy company. Fellow toy-maker Hasbro has seen mixed results since the launch of the "Transformers" franchise, which was followed by "G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra" and the notorious flop "Battleship."

George Clooney's World War II caper "The Monuments Men" opened in second place with $22.7 million. Reviews have been weak for the based-on-a-true-story tale about the mission to retrieve artwork stolen by the Nazis.

The Sony Pictures film was postponed from a Dec. 25 release because, Clooney then said, more time was needed to finish the visual effects. Clooney served as director, co-writer, producer and star on the film.

"The Monuments Men," based on the nonfiction book by Robert Edsel and Brett Witter, was particularly popular with older moviegoers, with 75 percent of its audience aged 35 and older.

"It's right where we hoped to be," said Rory Bruer, head of distribution for Sony. "There's a lot of love for George and the ensemble cast."

Sliding to third was the cop comedy "Ride Along," with Kevin Hart and Ice Cube. After three straight weeks atop the box office, the Universal film earned $9.4 million.

The Weinstein Co.'s bid for a young adult franchise, "Vampire Academy," opened poorly with just $4.1 million. The PG-13 film, based on Richelle Mead's young adult novels, is about mortal vampires at a boarding school.

Before opening in North America next weekend, Sony's "RoboCop" took in $20.2 million overseas.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Rentrak. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. "The Lego Movie," $69.1 million ($18.1 million international).

2. "The Monuments Men," $22.7 million.

3. "Ride Along," $9.4 million.

4. "Frozen," $6.9 million ($24 million international).

5. "That Awkward Moment," $5.5 million ($1.1 million international).

6. "Lone Survivor," $5.3 million ($1 million international).

7. "Vampire Academy," $4.1 million.

8. "The Nut Job," $3.8 million.

9. "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit," $3.6 million ($5.3 million international).

10. "Labor Day," $3.2 million.

___

Estimated weekend ticket sales Friday through Sunday at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada) for films distributed overseas by Hollywood studios, according to Rentrak:

1. "Frozen," $24 million.

2. "The Monkey King," $21.5 million.

3. "RoboCop," $20.2 million.

4. "The Wolf of Wall Street," $19 million.

5. "The Lego Movie," $18.1 million.

6. "The Man From Macau," $13 million.

7. "Dad, Where Are We Going," $12.5 million.

8. "Miss Granny," $8.3 million.

9. "Viy," $6.8 million.

10. "12 Years a Slave," $6.7 million. 

Anderson completes US Olympic sweep in slopestyle

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KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia (AP) — There was a lot of ugliness out on that supersized Olympic slopestyle course Sunday — crashes, splashes, face plants, even a cracked helmet.

As she so often does, Jamie Anderson made things look beautiful again.

The world's most consistent rider came through big under a huge amount of pressure — "I was freaking out," she said — riding clean on the rails and stomping down three high-flying jumps on her second, and make-or-break, trip down the mountain. She scored a 95.25 on that run to make America 2 for 2 in slopestyle's colorful and treacherous debut on the Olympic stage.

"It's kind of a big deal," said the gold medalist, who earlier this winter had conceded she was heading to Russia with some reservations about what the Olympics really stand for. "This is The Event."

Enni Rukajarvi of Finland won silver and Jenny Jones took bronze to give Britain its first Olympic medal on the snow.

A heady piece of history for Jones, the 33-year-old, one-time ski resort housekeeper from Bristol, who was unapologetic in revealing she prepared for the big day by watching "Downton Abbey" back at her place in the athletes village.

Jones calls Anderson a "hippie," and it's true, the 23-year-old from South Lake Tahoe, Calif., likes yoga and meditation — and granola every now and then.

"I think it's fair to say Jamie marches to the beat of her own drummer," American coach Mike Jankowski said. "She likes to do things her way out here."

Much as she wanted to relax while getting ready for her final run, she said it was, indeed, a little disconcerting standing at the top of the mountain, watching rider after rider take a fall. Of the 24 runs in finals, no fewer than 17 of them included a hand drag, a fall or worse — and that wasn't counting Austrian Anna Gasser's failed climb back up the first embankment after she was given the 'go' sign a second too soon.

Isabel Derungs of Switzerland fell off a rail and face planted into the snow.

Silje Norendal, the Norwegian who handed Anderson one of her few losses two weeks ago at the Winter X Games, fell off the first rail, bobbled on the second, then washed out completely on her second jump.

Worst of all, Sarka Pancochova of the Czech Republic lost it on the first jump of her second run, the back of her head slamming against the snow. Her body skittered down the hill, flipping side to side, with her legs flopping like a rag doll. Somehow, she got up and rode down the hill under her own power. When she got there, she showed off a pencil-wide crack that ran the length of her helmet.

"Well, it seems broken, but that's what they are for, right?" said Pancochova, who was not seriously injured, according to team officials.

Against that backdrop, and overcast skies, Anderson, who lost her balance and nearly fell on the final jump of her opening run, reached the starting gate for the second.

"I was just visualizing, like, seeing myself already landing and coming down here," she said. "Just trying to believe."

She made a mini-Usain Bolt pose, as if getting ready to arch an arrow, pounded on her snow pants, then took off.

On a course thought by some to be too tough for women, where even Anderson fell and hurt her back during training, she was almost flawless.

She executed her half-rotating jumps on and off the rails — the most technical part of these runs — without problem, then set up for the show: Cab 720 jump with a grab, switchback 540 with a grab, frontside 720. That's three jumps with a total of 5½ rotations and two fancy grabs of the snowboard. The landings: All perfect. Everyone knew it, including Anderson, who spread-eagled her arms as she crossed the finish line. Safe.

"Jamie is a lot of things," said 19-year-old Karly Shorr, who finished sixth. "Jamie is a leader. She's an awesome person. She's a good friend. She thinks about other people and, honestly, she's a good competitor. She does whatever she has to do to win. She never cracks under pressure. She uses it. She lands every time."

Jankowski said the United States came into slopestyle's debut hoping for a pair of medals. Shaun White pulled out, which may have dimmed those chances, but Sage Kotsenburg came up with the ride of his life to win the men's contest Saturday.

Anderson had something different riding on this outcome.

"Jamie has been the face of women's slopestyle for quite a few years now," Jankowski said of the four-time X Games champion who routed the competition in four of five Olympic qualifying contests this winter. "That's all very important, but when you're at the Olympics, you have to land your run at the right time to cement your legacy."

Anderson will celebrate with five of her sisters, a brother, a niece and her 80-something Bavarian neighbor, Gabriela, who she calls her "spirit grandmother."

Her mom, Lauren, was there, too, holding a red-and-yellow scarf that read "Team Every1."

"She's tough. She's a go-getter. She knows how to stay calm when the tension is on, somehow," Lauren said of a daughter who turned pro when she was 13.

Must be all that Zen-like peace she gets from yoga and meditation, right?

"No," Mom said. "Chutzpah. She's got that chutzpah thing."

PCB Chamber Awards Dinner next week

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PANAMA CITY BEACH — The Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce will host its annual awards dinner Feb. 20 at Edgewater Beach and Golf Resort from 6-9 p.m.

The event will honor eight chamber members for their dedication and accomplishments. Awards include Pioneer of the Year, Humanitarian, Chamber Ambassador, Small Business Person of the Year, HYPE Member of the Year and a dedication to the 2014 chairman.

Presenting sponsors this year are Edgewater Beach and Golf Resort, Ameris Bank, Harrison Sale McCloy and Nations Real Estate, and Whataburger is a gold sponsor.

Tickets are $75 per person, and eight-seat table sponsorships are available for $1,000. This year’s theme is “Red Carpet Affair” and dress is semi-formal. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact event director Catherine Thompson at 850-235-1159 or Catherine@PCBeach.org.

 

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