december 26, 2013 edition

8/13/2019 December 26, 2013 Edition

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Volume: 5 Issue: 26 December 26, 2013 bi-weekly Edition

merald Star NewsheThe BEST LIL NEWSPAPER inWalton county - from Freeport, Florida

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2014- Happy New Year Walton county! The new year isupon us. With Freeport having a new Mayor the future looks bright for the immediatearea. A new bridge is underway along Hwy. 331 and things are happening fast.

Keep on eye on us we will be growing too!!

Call us today 850-585-0262 find out now.

Inside this EDITION:

Two Ways to Help Shelter

House During HolidaySeason Shelter House is offering twoopportunities this holiday season for the

community to support ....Page 3

What Duck Dynasty's

Phil Robertson Can

Teach Us about EmpathyI have something to add to theDuck Dy-nastycontroversy, wherein reality TV star

Phil Robertson got in ...Page 4

Cops Bust Drug Dealers

With 1,250 Bags of Heroin

Labeled Obamacare

Massachusetts State Troopers found 1,250small bags of heroin labeled Obamacare

last week on a routine traffic.Page 7


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Hello, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Man i ts

almost 2014. Where did you think youd be when you wereyounger and would say that number of year? I really cant

think back to what I may have thought of. I do remember thinking aboutthe future after 2025 as space travel ships we replaced cars with...kind of like the Jet-sons. How many of you readers remember that cartoon?

Come to think of it. How many of you readers can remember the greatest cartoonsever..road runner and coyote?You know how reality shows seem to have found a way into our lives? This latest fi-

asco about the Duck Dynasty show. When you hire outspoken, long haired, beardedChristians from Louisiana wouldnt you almost expect them too grow too big for their

britches and start telling us what they think and believe. But however in this case, thereis a massive following for approval of the show and its characters.

A&E's "Duck Dynasty" is not just the most popular reality show on cable TV. It's arallying point for middle America, proof that down-home folks from the backcountrycan make good and become mega-stars. And now it's become the latest battleground in

America's culture wars.Phil Robertson, the show's 67-year-old patriarch, was suspended from the series thisweek after he referred to gay people as "homosexual offenders" in a national magazineinterview. His comments to GQ magazine also seemed to question the need for federalentitlement programs.Once again, TV finds itself in another cultural hot zone. The "Duck Dynasty" situationrecalls last summer's uproar over celebrity chef Paula Deen,who lost her Food Networkgig and many sponsorship deals after she admitted she had "of course" used a racialepithet in the past.TLC pulled an episode of "Cake Boss" in 2012 after "Cousin Anthony" mocked a trans-gender guest. Similar flare-ups damaged the careers of radio host Don Imus, Oscar win-ner Mel Gibson and actor Isaiah Washington after they were accused of using raciallyinsensitive or homophobic speech.These cases reflect larger rifts in American lifecall it a split between progressivesand traditionalist values.But the particular problem for the TV industry is that it's trying to profit off the samecultural tensions it's exploiting. That inevitably leads to problems such as the currentone engulfing "Duck Dynasty."The reality programming trend in recent years has made stars out of everyone from bak-ers to pawnbrokers to catfish-wranglers. That these "authentic" people have opinionsand values that don't always jibe with those of the media elite in New York and LosAngeles isn't necessarily surprising. "If A&E wants the Robertsons to make money forthe channel by being authentic, then at some point A&E has to accept that reality stars

will be real human beings," McCall added. "If A&E didn't like the Robertsons as theyare, then why did they give them a weekly platform?"Hours after Robertson was suspended for his comments, the affair had mushroomed intoa highly emotional national debate. A Facebook page demanding Robertson's return hadearned more than 600,000 "likes" and the hashtag #StandWithPhil spread across Twit-ter. "If A&E wants the Robertsons to make money for the channel by being authentic,then at some point A&E has to accept that reality stars will be real human beings,"McCall added. "If A&E didn't like the Robertsons as they are, then why did they givethem a weekly platform?"Hours after Robertson was suspended for his comments, the affair had mushroomed intoa highly emotional national debate. A Facebook page demanding Robertson's return hadearned more than 600,000 "likes" and the hashtag #StandWithPhil spread across Twit-

ter. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal expressed support for the "Duck Commander" patri-arch, as did former GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.Glenn Beck said he'd

be happy to have "Duck Dynasty" on his start-up network the Blaze, while Fox Newshost Sean Hannity targeted A&E executives for suspending Robertson on an indefinite"hiatus."

Like most of us we watch and wait for the day that glamorous life comes crashingdown or they get busted or something. Heck, they even have several shows on illegalactivities about how to hide from the law and make your money. Shows like Moonshin-ers and Cops. Ask about Nascar youll see the same faces watching these red neck Tvshows like Swamp people and so forth. If you could guess what the next big reality fazewill be, what would you bet on? Seeing people struggle to survive gets addicting to

some viewers. With a Jerry Springer excitement we await the next big craze.

EditorialViews expressed in The EMERALD STAR NEWS do not necessarily reflect those of the

publisher. The staff of The EMERALD STAR NEWSpride ourselves in our efforts to ensureaccuracy of the publication contents. However, there is no guarantee of the accuracy of all the

Information nor the absence of errors and omissions (especially when sent through a third party);

therefore, no responsibility can or will be assumed. 2500 copies printed bi-weekly.

Publisher/EditorFrank W olfe Jr(850) 585-0262

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Web DesignerLee CoxContributing Editor -Dr. J. Corodan

Page 2 The EMERALD STAR NEWS Inc. Thursday, December 26, 2013

Look online: theemeraldstarnews.blogspot.comMail invoices and other information to:

P.O. Box 1133Freeport, Florida 32439

Quote ofthe week :

The Wolfes en

r HOW??From the businesses advertising in this issue.Thank each one as you go to their store

Yes its true. The rising demand for this newspaper our delivering needs we

could not meet each week. If you live a bit further out we will get it to you.

We need advertising help too, just give us a call today!

The Emerald Star News is published bi-weekly

We are locally owned and operated in Freeport

Duck Dynasty" is amajor part ofA&E's business

plan. The show isthe No. 1-ratedreality series oncable TV. The Sea-son 4 premiere

drew a record 11.8million total view-ers, according to

Nielsen, making itthe most-watchednonfiction telecastever on cable TV.That's good newsfor A&E's bottom

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Page 3The EMERALD STAR NEWS Inc.Thursday, December 26, 2013

CAC As reported by WZEP AM1460

The Emerald Coast Childrens Advocacy Center is already part of DeFuniak Springsand Walton County and with growing needs, they want to build a modern permanentlocation. The Advocacy Center is on the Walton Commissioner Agenda to ask for

property, the vacant land on College where the hospital used to be.

The Emerald Coast Childrens Advocacy Center has a small office in DeFuniakSprings and CEO Julie Hurst says they helped 243 children from Walton. They antici-

pate more and Hurst says the numbers are skyrocketing as more agencies and people

hear about the services.

Hurst says the center they want to build would bring the same services offered at theNiceville center. This is a one stop center that brings various legal and medical offi-cials to the child instead of taking the child around. The center has video recordingand is designed to be a comfortable place. The Niceville center is located in aneighborhood, next to a nursing home. Hurst says this provides a great opportunity as

the seniors come and volunteer.

Hurst notes the center does not house children, it is not a type of group home. She

also says Walton Sheriff Mike Adkinson has been a supporter of the Center and therewill be law enforcement located at the center.

The land is next to the current Life Enrichment Senior Center. At one time the com-missioners had a plan to build a new senior center. The entire building has changedfrom a split county office and senior center use to almost entirely a senior center. The

Advocacy Center is asking for a 50 year lease at $1 a year.

Hurst says about a third of the cases come from Walton County. The Advocacy Cen-ter has been instrumental in several recent convictions and is often credited as assist-ing by the States Attorney. Hurst says, statistically speaking they only see about athird of the actual cases out there. She hopes that with more knowledge, they will seemore agencies using the facility and more people reporting cases. With a new law,

you can be held accountable for not reporting. Hurst says they are part of the commu-nity and are here to help children.

Two Ways to Help Shelter House During Holiday

Season

Shelter House is offering two opportunities this holiday season for the community tosupport the domestic and sexual violence center serving Okaloosa and Walton coun-

ties.

Shelter House is seeking donations for its Holiday Food Drive. The organization fed30 families at Thanksgiving and plans to do the same for Christmas with help fromthe community. Families are provided with a complete meal basket filled with all the

ingredients needed to prepare a holiday feast.

Non-perishable food donations are accepted at any time. Due to storage capacity, per-ishable items such as hams, turkeys, bread and fresh fruits and vegetables will only beaccepted on Wednesday, December 18 for Christmas meals. All donations should bedelivered to the Shelter House administration office located at 102 Buck Drive in Fort

Walton Beach between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.

Suggested donations include: turkeys, hams, mashed potato mix, stuffing mix, gravy,soups for casseroles, cranberry sauce, crispy fried onions, fresh fruits and vegetables,

pie filling, pie crusts, condensed milk and laundry baskets. Gift cards are always wel-come.

Shelter House has partnered with Sinfonia Gulf Coast for Charity Gift Wrap at SilverSands Premium Outlets. Volunteer wrap artists will be available to beautify your pre-sents from noon until 6pm through December 18. Starting December 19, the servicewill be offered from noon until 9pm. Wrappers will be on hand from noon to 6pm on

Sundays and Christmas Eve.

Charity Gift Wrap is located in the storefront between Bose and The North Face.Shoppers can select a holiday card from the Door of Hope upon which are items listedthat Shelter House participants need. Return the card with the items to make the holi-days brighter for a woman, child or man. This location will also serve as a drop off

point for non-perishable food donations.For more information or to volunteer as a wrap artist, contact Shelter House at 850-

243-1201.

New Bridge As reported by WZEP AM1460

Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Secretary Ananth Prasad, FDOT Dis-trict Three Secretary Tommy Barfield, Florida Senate President Don Gaetz andWalton County Commission Chair Bill Chapman broke ground Friday on a new

U.S. 331 bridge across Choctawhatchee Bay in Walton County.

Work will begin in January 2014 to construct a new $118.5 million bridge east of thecurrent Clyde B. Wells Bridge and feature two northbound travel lanes with accom-

panying shoulders. The new bridge is scheduled to be ready for traffic in summer2015, with final completion of the project set for a year later. Upon completion ofthe new bridge, the current structure will be used exclusively for two lanes ofsouthbound traffic. In addition to the new bridge, a dedicated park and recreation

area will be built beneath the southern approach.

FDOT also broke ground Friday on the expansion of U.S. 331 from north of StateRoad (S.R.) 20 to I -10. The $47 million project includes widening the roadway tofour lanes, safety upgrades, drainage improvements and new signage and pavementmarkings. Construction will begin fall 2014 with completion scheduled for summer

2016.Construction on the 4.6-mile section of U.S. 331 in Walton County to multi-lane theroadway from the north end of the Clyde B. Wells Bridge to south of S.R. 20 began

in September 2012 and is scheduled for completion in summer 2015.

All three projects are part of a continuing effort by FDOT to improve safety along ahurricane evacuation route, ease congestion on the U.S. 331 corridor from U.S. 98 to

I-10 and encourage economic development opportunities in Walton County.

For the latest information on the project, visitfacebook.com/USHighway331.Formore Florida Department of Transportation District Three information follow us on

twitter@myfdot_nwfl.

Hilton Sandestin Beach (Christmas) Basketball Blowout

at Freeport High

Sand, sun, roundball and rooms. The 20th Hilton Sandestin Beach (Christmas) Bas-ketball Blowout at Freeport High School begins December 27 and concludes on De-cember 31. Twenty-four high school basketball teams (16 boy's teams and eight girl's

teams) from throughout the Southeast engage in 37 games over a four day period.

Born out of a need for small schools to have tournaments, the event has proven to bea boom for Freeport and South Walton. County Attorney and Walton School Board

member Mark Davis told the commissioners his brother, Principal Mike Davis startedthe event. He also says the tournament now fills thousands of beds in a time whenlodging counts can be low. When they started the Destin Log, then Sun helped tosponsor the event. The Sandestin Hilton has been part, and now is the sponsor. Davissays they have been very generous. He says they love having the Blowout because of

the slow time of year. He says Sandestin helps with room discounts.
http://facebook.com/USHighway331http://www.twitter.com/myfdot_nwflhttp://www.twitter.com/myfdot_nwflhttp://facebook.com/USHighway331


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Thursday, December 26, 2013The EMERALD STAR NEWS Inc.

Health PostGeorge Roll P.A.-C

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Aspirin risks may outweigh benefits

in healthy adultsHealthy adults who take daily aspirin to stave off heart disease may beinviting more harm than benefit, according to a new review of past stud-ies.Adults face a crush of conflicting health messages about aspirin and therole it plays as a preventive medicine.In an attempt to bring clarity to the topic, UK researchers sifted throughthe most recent evidence from nine randomized controlled trialswhichare considered medicine's gold standardand other systematic reviewsof such trials. They found a total of 27 studies between 2008 and 2012that fell within their criteria."Too many healthy people think that aspirin will prevent heart attacksand cancer," said Dr. Peter Sandercock of the Centre for Clinical BrainSciences at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.Sandercock has extensive research experience in this subject, but wasnot involved in the current study.

"This shows that if you are healthy, with no symptoms of cardiovasculardisease, then it's not sensible to take regular aspirin. It won't improveyour health," he told Reuters Health.The study, he said, reminded him of another recent report that suggestedvitamin supplements may not have clear benefits for healthy people."There is a plethora of evidence in this area but nobody has drawn to-gether the advantages and disadvantages of aspirin in a systematic way,"said Paul Sutcliffe of Warwick Medical School at the University ofWarwick in England.He led the study published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE."We need to be extremely careful about promoting the daily use withoutfully understanding all the evidence," Sutcliffe told Reuters Health."All I would say is to not stop taking aspirin without talking to yourdoctor," he added.People who have had strokes or heart attacks have a hardening of theirarteries, which leads to the formation of blood clots, Sandercock said.Various cardiovascular diseases contribute to the formation of theseclots and daily aspirin is widely known to break down those clots and

prevent further problems, he added.

Past research has generally shown that a person who experiences a mi-

nor stroke has a zero to 15 percent chance of experiencing another

stroke the following year, Sandercock said.

"The study is just another meta-analysis of published overall trial results

and contains no new data," said Dr. Peter Rothwell, a clinical neurolo-gist at the University of Oxford in England. He was not involved in thecurrent study."The question of the balance of risk and benefit of aspirin is important,"Rothwell wrote in an email. "But superficial meta-analyses of very lim-ited published data are not, unfortunately, able to cast any useful light."Sandercock noted that "science is cumulative.""Health messages get very confusing in the pressfor example, youhear butter is good for you and then that you shouldn't eat butter," San-dercock said.

"Sometimes we need to remind people of good health messages like this

one," he added, which shows that "If you are healthy, the harms of dailyaspirin cancel out the benefits."

Feel free to give us a call or stop in for an appt. Walk ins accepted.

What Duck Dynasty's Phil

Robertson Can Teach Us

about EmpathyI have something to add to the Duck Dynastycontro-versy, wherein reality TV star Phil Robertson got introuble for expressing anti-gay views, was suspended

by A&E, and has now become the cause celebre ofnitwit conservative politicians from across the land.This won't take long.I'm not even going to bother addressing the idiocy ofthe "constitutional conservatives" who think the FirstAmendment guarantees you the legal right to (1) acable reality show and (2) never be criticized foranything you say. Nor am I going to talk aboutRobertson's anti-gay statement, except to say thatnobody buys you couching your bigotry in "biblical"

terms just because you call yourself a Christian andthrow out some scriptural references. Once you startcampaigning to have people who eat shellfish and thesinners who work on the Sabbath executed (the Biblesays so!) then we'll accept that you're just honoringyour religion.It's Robertson's comments about how happy black

people were living under Jim Crow that I want tofocus on, because they have something to teach usabout empathy and individual change. Ta-NehisiCoates says what needs to be said about the actualreality of which Robertson was so blissfully un-aware, but in case you haven't seen it, here's whatRobertson said about the Louisiana of his youth:"I never, with my eyes, saw the mistreatment of any

black person. Not once. Where we lived was allfarmers. The blacks worked for the farmers. I hoedcotton with them. I'm with the blacks, because we'rewhite trash. We're going across the field.... They'resinging and happy. I never heard one of them, one

black person, say, 'I tell you what: These doggonewhite people'not a word!... Pre-entitlement, pre-welfare, you say: Were they happy? They were

godly; they were happy; no one was singing theblues." And they may not like it, but white peoplewho grew up in the South during Jim Crow have anextra responsibility to reflect on their own experi-ence, their youthful perspective, and the reality somany people endured. They lived under a terroristregime that treated them quite well while it commit-ted horrific crimes against their fellow citizens. Itmay not be fair to say to someone today, "Youshould have stood against it," particularly if theywere young at the time. But it is fair to say that theynow need to understand what it truly was, and if in

2013 they still think that blacks were "singing andhappy" before they got welfare and turned all uppity,then they need to wake up.

OK, so I will say one more thing about the conserva-

tives now rallying to Robertson's cause. The way a

thinking, moral person would react to his statements

is to say, "Listen, I may not agree with his views

about certain things, but he's only one character on

that program, and there's a lot of value there." A

thinking, moral person doesn't defend nostalgia for

Jim Crow and compare gay people to those whocommit bestiality. If you want to love this particular

sinner but hate his sin, you've got to acknowledge the

sin. And my conservative friends, the next time

you're wondering why gay people, black people, and

pretty much anybody who is a minority of any kind.
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/12/17/multivitamins-not-linked-to-memory-or-heart-benefits-studies-find/http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-embrace-of-duck-dynasty-star-2016-hopefuls-make-bid-for-evangelicals/2013/12/19/f42e464a-68db-11e3-a0b9-249bbb34602c_story.htmlhttp://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/12/phil-robertsons-america/282555/http://www.gq.com/entertainment/television/201401/duck-dynasty-phil-robertsonhttp://www.gq.com/entertainment/television/201401/duck-dynasty-phil-robertsonhttp://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/12/phil-robertsons-america/282555/http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-embrace-of-duck-dynasty-star-2016-hopefuls-make-bid-for-evangelicals/2013/12/19/f42e464a-68db-11e3-a0b9-249bbb34602c_story.htmlhttp://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/12/17/multivitamins-not-linked-to-memory-or-heart-benefits-studies-find/


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Page 5

The FREEPORT POST

Thursday, December 26, 2013 The Emerald Star News, Inc.

The Mayors PostRuss Barley Freeport Mayor

Please send any and all comments

to The [email protected]

Mayors Post

Russ Barley- Mayor

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to

all of you from the Mayors Office. Thecity council has adopted the budget forfiscal year 2013-14 of $4,524,917.00,with this in place the council now has todecide what to do with the fire depart-ment budget needing additional funds tooperate and this will take place at a Spe-cial Meeting on January 8th, the FreeportFire Department will be distributingChristmas Dinners and Gifts to those lessfortunate and needing some assistance

during this holiday period and we appre-ciate all of you who have contributed insome way to make this happen . I re-cently attended a production Fire Burn

written by Shakespeare and presented bythe No Limits Theater Company, the pro-duction was held at Seaside and the pro-duction was in conjunction with The Arcof Walton County, and the ChautauquaLearn and Service Charter School and

Community members of Walton Countymy congratulations to Nancy Hastings(Director) and the others involved inworking with this group of outstandingyoung men and women. I also was a partof the ground breaking ceremony held bythe DOT and the Walton Chamber ofCommerce for the new US Highway 331Bridge across Choctawhatchee Bay. The$118..5 million bridge will be built im-mediately east of the current Clyde B

Wells Bridge and work will begin inJanuary 2014. Wishing each of you aHappy Holiday season, I look forward tosome exciting news to begin the first ofthe new year and also look forward toFreeport being progressive and prosper-ous in the coming year. Next scheduleCity Council meeting will be January 7,2014, come and see what your electedofficials are doing for you.

Would you like to ask the Mayor a ques-tion? Send in your E-mail to addresslisted on page 2.

Freeport is booming, catch us if you can!

Waste WatchA child once said he wanted to become a garbageman because they get to ride on the back of a truckand only work one day a week. The reality is themen and women who are in our neighborhoods

picking up refuse do indeed ride on the trucks, andare out many days each week. This gives them eyesand ears in our community. Now local law enforce-ment and garbage collectors are partnering to ex-

pand watching your neighborhoods following the

launch of Waste Managements community safetyprogram Waste Watch.

Through this program, Waste Management driverswill act as an extra set of eyes and ears for local

police, fire department and emergency services, andreport any suspicious activity that they may witness

during their routes.

Walton Sheriff Michael Adkinson, Jr. says they arepleased to partner with Waste Management on thiscrime prevention program. He says this type of

neighborhood watch initiative will enhance thesafety of Walton County communities and providelaw enforcement officers with an extra set of eyeson the street to protect our neighborhoods and our

citizens.

In Florida, tips from Waste Management employeestrained through Waste Watch have alerted fire offi-cials and saved a sleeping man from a burning in-dustrial building, saved a familys home from a fire,stopped a pit bull attack and led to the arrest of sus-

pected vandals.

Through its Waste Watch program, Waste Manage-ment drivers have undergone proper training onwhat to look for and how to respond in the case ofan emergency. Should anything occur while on theirroutes, drivers are instructed to pull over at the saf-est location and call emergency officials or their

supervisor in a non-emergency situation.

Being members of the very communities they serve,

Waste Management drivers are familiar with theirroutes and are good candidates to spot unusual ac-

tivity, especially when trained on what to look for.

Amy Boyson, Community Affairs Manager forWaste Management notes their drivers are residentsof Walton County, and are proud to work in and

protect our community. She says the program hasbeen launched in many cities throughout the UnitedStates and Florida, and they are proud to bring it to

this area.

Waste Management and its 44 employees in WaltonCounty provide services to single-family residences

as well as commercial customers.

BP makes'significant' discoveryin deep water in Gulf ofMexicoOil company BP says it hasmade a "significant" discoveryin the Gulf of Mexico in a well

it co-owns with ConocoPhillips.

The company says the find atan exploration well on Keathley

Canyon Block 93 is about 300miles (480 kilometers) south-west of New Orleans and inapproximately 4,900 feet (1,493meters) of water. BP says moredrilling is necessary to deter-mine how big, and potentially

how valuable, it might be.

Meanwhile, BP also announcedit was taking a $230 millionloss related to the costs of an

unsuccessful well off Brazil'scoast, together with an $850million write off for the valueallocated to the block as part ofthe 2010 acquisition of DevonEnergy's interests in the Gulf ofMexico, Brazil and Azerbaijan.

These Disturbing Fast Food

Truths Will Make You Re-

consider Your Lunch

McDonald's, Burger King,Wendy's, Taco Bell -- which oneare you craving today? It's prettylikely that you have a favorite fastfood chain and that you lovemany of the tasty options offeredat these restaurants. It's hard tomiss them. As of 2012, there were263,944 fast food restaurants inAmerica with a combined revenue

of well over $100 billion.

With a Gallup poll revealing that8 in 10 Americans eat fast food atleast monthly and half saying theyeat it weekly, these companiesknow they have a good thing go-ing. And with all the savvy mar-keting they do, it's no wonderyou're itching for that Big Mac.But before you scarf one down,

you might want to truly evaluatewhat's going on with your fastfood. Here are some truths thatmay make you wonder if you stillwant to go to therefor lunch.
http://www.sbdcnet.org/small-business-research-reports/fast-food-business-2012http://www.sbdcnet.org/small-business-research-reports/fast-food-business-2012http://www.gallup.com/poll/163868/fast-food-major-part-diet.aspxhttp://www.gallup.com/poll/163868/fast-food-major-part-diet.aspxhttp://www.sbdcnet.org/small-business-research-reports/fast-food-business-2012http://www.sbdcnet.org/small-business-research-reports/fast-food-business-2012


6/12

Thursday, December 26, 2013The EMERALD STAR NEWS Inc.Page 6

Business Ads aslow as $25,call today to find

out how850-585-0262

To Jesus, the Christian life wasn't about being perfect but about being perfected.

Florida Department of Health reminds pregnant

women that flu vaccination is important

Tallahassee- The Florida Department of Health remindspregnant women, and those looking to become pregnant, thatthe 2013-2014 flu season is underway and to make sure they

get vaccinated against influenza.

The Department recommends that all individuals six monthsof age and older receive the flu vaccination each year. It isespecially important for pregnant women to be vaccinateddue to the increased risk of complications associated withcontracting the flu while pregnant. The Department has re-ceived several reports of pregnant women with influenza-likeillness from around the state, including one confirmed deathand four severe cases in which women have been admittedinto critical care units. The flu vaccination is safe and will

protect the mother, the unborn child, and will also help pro-

tect babies during the first months after birth.

Pregnant women should also be reminded to get immunizedby a flu shot injection. Standard dose nasal spray vaccines,while effective for people ages two through 49, are not rec-

ommended for use by pregnant women.

It is highly advised that pregnant women receive the influ-enza vaccination either before or during pregnancy, said Dr.Celeste Philip, Deputy Secretary for Health and Deputy StateHealth Officer for Childrens Medical Services (CMS). Flu

can be a serious health concern for both the expecting motherand their unborn child. Pregnant women should take all pre-cautionary steps possible to protect themselves and their ba-

bies against influenza this season.

Additional flu prevention steps include washing your handsoften, keeping your hands away from your face and coveringyour mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing and cough-ing. Symptoms of the flu include headache, fever, severecough, runny nose or body aches. If you are experiencingany of these symptoms, see your primary care provider im-

mediately for guidance on treatment. For more informationon pregnant women and influenza, visit http://www.cdc.gov/

flu/protect/vaccine/pregnant.htm

Flu vaccines are offered in many locations, including doc-tors offices, clinics, health departments, retail stores, phar-macies, health centers, and by many employers and schools.It is important for you and your family members to get a fluvaccine every year. Check with your physician, your localcounty health department or visit http://www.floridahealth.gov/prevention-safety-and-wellness/flu-

prevention/locate-a-flu-shot.html to search for a location to

receive a flu vaccine.

DOH protects, promotes and improves the health of all peo-ple in Florida through integrated state, county and commu-

nity efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. Tolearn more about the Florida Department of Health please

visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.

Construction on a $2.3 million roadway widening and re-surfacing project along County Road (CR) 2 is scheduled to

begin in January, 2014. The seven (7) miles of work on CR2 will take place between State Road 83 and the Walton/

Holmes County line in Walton County, Florida.

The following types of work are planned:

Constructing new 4.5 wide asphalt shoulders (exceptionthrough Darlington)

Installing new storm drainage at various locations

Grading new slopes and drainage ditches along shoulders

New asphalt overlay of the existing travel lanes and new

shoulders

Installing new signs to replace old or damaged signs

Installing new US Postal Service approved mail boxes at

select locations

Placing new audible lane striping and reflective pavement

markersTo accomplish the work the Contractor, C.W. Roberts, will

close one lane of the roadway during working hours, 7 amto 5 pm, Monday through Friday. Additional hours anddays may be required to complete the work within contracttime. Lane closures will be marked with signs and cones,

and workers will guide traffic through the work zone.

Drivers should exercise caution and pay attention to flag-gers controlling traffic during active work hours. Access to

businesses and side-streets will be maintained.

It is estimated the project will be complete late fall of2014; however, all work is weather dependent and may beimpacted by inclement weather.

Some mail boxes may need to be temporarily set backfrom the edge of the roadway to allow for new shoulderconstruction. This will be coordinated with the local postalcarrier to ensure no interruption of mail service. As the datefor mailbox replacement work gets closer, notifications will

be distributed.

The Beautiful And BizarreFaces Of Russia's RestaurantSingersWalk into any restaurant in the Black

Sea resort town of Sochi at night, andyou'll be greeted by the sounds of a

professional chansonsinger. He or shewill likely be lurking in the corner of aneccentrically decorated establishment,

belting out the words of traditional Rus-sian ballads. The eateries' gaudy neonsignage, over-the-top interior dcor andtechno musical equipment will giveway to the surprisingly classic and time-honored custom of live, folk-inspiredentertainment."Sochi Singers," a compilation of pho-tos by Dutch photographer Rob Horn-stra dedicated to this overlooked stapleof Sochi's nightlife, presents the croon-ers in all their glory. Seen atop make-shift stages, nestled behind an electric

piano or hilariously obscured by anoddly placed laptop, the male and fe-male singers stand as a reminder of thesimultaneously retro and visionary na-ture of the performers. No matter how

decadent the faux-Mediterranean deco-rations, no matter how advanced theelectronic accompaniments, the figuresremain part of a deeply rooted Russianritual.The project is part of a larger effort byHornstra and writer and filmmaker Ar-nold van Bruggen titled "The SochiProject." In the run up to the 2014 Win-ter Olympics, the duo decided to ex-

plore and document a region known tomany as a subtropical summer capital,

the Florida of Russia. Though thegames are not their focus, Hornstra andvan Bruggen used the event as an ex-cuse to dive into a seemingly pictur-esque locale that borders one of themost violent and economically deprivedareas"Sochi 2014 will be Russia's andPutin's business card, so to say. It will

be an ideal, Potemkin-village like rep-resentation of modern Russia and theregion in which the Games are being

organized," van Bruggen noted in anemail to The Huffington Post. He andHornstra sought to push beyond thefacade and present a more comprehen-sive peek into the unique world .

Three years after crowds in Tunisia forced long-time dictatorPresident Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali into flight, and kicked off whatwould later be termed the Arab Spring, the worlds streets re-main alive with protest. The year 2013 saw incessant calls forchange, with social media continuing to play a crucial role in mo-

bilizing demonstrators.

The years first protests had been brewing for nearly a month in

India, in response to the New Delhi gang-rape of a female student,who later died of her injuries. Violent demonstrations eruptedacross the Indian capital, where crowds turned out in droves todemand justice. Across the border in Pakistan in November,throngs massed to call for an end to U.S. drone strikes in the coun-trys mountainous borderlands near Afghanistan. NATO supply

lines were blocked in a show of anger.

During the summer, Tahrir Square was reclaimed for a series ofprotests that eventually resulted in a military coup and the arrest ofthe popularly elected President Mohammed Morsi in early July.The installment of a military government, lauded by some butloathed by others, triggered counter protests from his supporters inthe Muslim Brotherhood that were violently suppressed by thenew junta. Then there were the student protests in Chile againstthe alleged profiteering of the countrys public education system,

demonstrations in Istanbul over the removal of a historic park and

the brave rallies held in Russia in defiance of state-enforced anti-gay policies.

At the years end, Thailands color-coded protests sprung to life

after three years of calm.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/pregnant.htmhttp://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/pregnant.htmhttp://www.floridahealth.gov/public-health-in-your-life/county-health-departments/CHDlisting.htmlhttp://www.floridahealth.gov/prevention-safety-and-wellness/flu-prevention/locate-a-flu-shot.htmlhttp://www.floridahealth.gov/prevention-safety-and-wellness/flu-prevention/locate-a-flu-shot.htmlhttp://www.floridahealth.gov/prevention-safety-and-wellness/flu-prevention/locate-a-flu-shot.htmlhttp://www.floridahealth.gov/http://issuu.com/borotov/docs/hob_singers_issuuhttps://www.thesochiproject.org/shop/product/31/http://www.thesochiproject.org/nl/chapters/the-summer-capital/http://www.thesochiproject.org/nl/chapters/the-summer-capital/http://www.thesochiproject.org/nl/chapters/the-summer-capital/http://www.thesochiproject.org/nl/chapters/the-summer-capital/https://www.thesochiproject.org/shop/product/31/http://issuu.com/borotov/docs/hob_singers_issuuhttp://www.floridahealth.gov/http://www.floridahealth.gov/prevention-safety-and-wellness/flu-prevention/locate-a-flu-shot.htmlhttp://www.floridahealth.gov/prevention-safety-and-wellness/flu-prevention/locate-a-flu-shot.htmlhttp://www.floridahealth.gov/prevention-safety-and-wellness/flu-prevention/locate-a-flu-shot.htmlhttp://www.floridahealth.gov/public-health-in-your-life/county-health-departments/CHDlisting.htmlhttp://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/pregnant.htmhttp://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/pregnant.htm


7/12

Happenings in DeFuniak Springs

Thursday, December 26, 2013 The EMERALD STAR NEWS Inc. Page 7

Im just a local man looking for ways to help you. Call 850-585-0262

People who know us.know : use The Emerald Star

News to promote upcoming events and business specials.

Send all inquiries to [email protected] call 850-585-0262 for more information:)

DFS Special Meeting As reported by WZEP AM 1460

Dont call the moving vans quite yet, but it looks like DeFuniak SpringsCity Hall will be relocating. The City will sell its city hall property to CrimDevelopment in Atlanta for $3, 001,000. The sale includes DeFuniakSprings keeping a 20 X 25 easement for a sign. The city previously ac-cepted the price where the offer was presented verbally, so Attorney Clay

Adkinson took time to go over the contract.

The contract is for 180 days, taking them to around June. The purchaser cannotify the seller if the property is not usable after an inspection period. Thecity will pay a rental rate of $600 for City Hall while using it after the sale.

The time frame will be negotiated. Once the contract is accepted, the CityHall Annex will be torn down and construction will start there first. This toallow for a new City Hall to be built and for the move. The location and ex-act design are not set. The two sites currently being considered are the va-cant lot at 20th and 90 and the Old Piggly Wiggly and Tonys Auto Body on

the west end of downtown between 90 and Baldwin.

The purchase will have $21,000 in DOC stamps, that is a type of sales tax.While the City does not pay the tax, the law says the buyer will. The agree-ment has the seller, the City, paying some of the closing costs. Adkinson toldthe Council there is a statute that says the non-exempt party pays. Adkinsonsaid they could reduce the purchase price by the amount of the DOC stampsor could raise the rent to cover the cost. That would allow the buyer to havethe money to pay the DOC stamps. An Attorney General opinion will takeabout 90 days to come back. Sales agent Steve Youell said he would ap-

proach the developer and see what they want to do. Council member Kermit

Wright said this means the taxpayers will pay $21,000.

The contract also says the City will pay the real estate commission of 6%.Adkinson said the Council needs to understand they will not get the the fullselling price. Adkinson also asked for the City have the same Specific Per-

formance language the buyer wants.

The Council approved the contract presented with the two amendments, thepurchaser pays the DOC stamps and the Specific Performance for both par-

ties.

At the special meeting the Council approved hiring a utility worker. Theyagreed to move the January 13 meeting from the City Hall to the CommunityCenter to make sure there will be enough room for a land use item, the homeon Highway 83 north being considered by the COPE Center for an assistedLiving Facility. The TPO membership is changing and the voting member-

ship was approved. Walton now has five voting members.

President Obama promises

'year of action' in 2014President Obama, plagued by problems in thefirst year of his second term, cites encouragingdata on his healthcare law, prospects on immi-gration legislation and possibly improved rela-

tions with Congress.

President Obama,despite a year marked bystumbles and unforced errors, vowed to delivera "year of action" in 2014, telling reporters Fri-day that his healthcare law was rebounding, hisimmigration overhaul effort was still alive and

his stormy relations with Congress were show-ing signs of "possible daylight breaking."

The president's sunny outlook for his sixthyear, offered at his year-end news conference,came backed by some hopeful data for the be-leaguered administration. More than 500,000

people have enrolled in healthcare plans usingthe federal website in December, bringing tomore than 1 million the number who've se-lected insurance through the new federal and

state marketplaces, Obama reported.The numbers were the most comprehensivetally backing the White House assertion thatenrollment has accelerated as some of the tech-nical problems of HealthCare.gov have beenresolved. Only 110,000 people had enrolled

through the balky federal website in November.

Still, the figures are far behind initial enroll-ment targets, and Obama continues to be

plagued by the problem-prone transition to thenew healthcare system. His administration an-

nounced Thursday that it would allow someAmericans to avoid the law's core requirementto buy insurance, a decision Obama down-

played Friday.

"If there are adjustments that can be made tosmooth out the transition, we should make

them," he said.

Obama addressed reporters hours before leav-ing for a two-week holiday break in Hawaii.His remarks came as many Democrats la-mented that the White House had wasted thefirst year of his second termthe best win-dow to advance his agendasaying the ad-ministration had botched the healthcare rollout,only narrowly dodged a major confrontationwith Congress over intervention in Syria, andmishandled revelations of domestic surveil-

lance at theNational Security Agency.

Cops Bust Drug Dealers

With 1,250 Bags of HeroinLabeled Obamacare

Massachusetts State Troopers found 1,250small bags of her-oin labeledObamacare at atraffic stop on In-

terstate 91 Friday.

Four people are

charged with drugtrafficking after a police dog namedFrankie located the massive amount ofheroin. The vehicle was pulled over afternumerous traffic violations, and trooperssoon discovered that the driver did not

have a license.

A State Police spokesman said that thehuge red Obamacare lettering may have

been a way to brand the drugs so that buy-

ers know what they are getting.

All four suspects were arraigned Friday,and not guilty pleas were entered for all of

them.

But why label the drugs Obamacare, of all

things? If youre gonna name your drugs,

why dont you pick an iconic brand name,

like Adidas, or name it after a loved one,

like Carol? On the other hand, this is gen-

ius; they named the drugs after something

nobody wants to touch with a ten foot pole.

5 Things to Know About

the Winter SolsticeBehold! A year has passed since thegreat Mayan apocalypse of 2012 newsflash: were all still here andthe winter solstice is again upon us.The solstice marks the shortest day ofthe year for dwellers in the NorthernHemisphere, and the longest day ofthe year for those south of the equa-

tor. But that doesnt just mean dark-ness will cast a great shadow over the

Northern Hemisphere. Leading up tothe solstice, the suns highest pointappears closer to horizon each day,which means the days get shorter andthe nights get longer. During the sol-stice, the suns position relative toEarth seems topause (solstice meansstationary sun), and from that day

forward appears to inch northward,
http://www.latimes.com/topic/politics/government/barack-obama-PEPLT007408.topichttp://www.latimes.com/topic/politics/migration/immigration-reform-legislation-%282013%29-EVGAP00073.topichttp://www.latimes.com/topic/politics/government/u.s.-congress-ORGOV0000131.topichttp://www.latimes.com/topic/politics/government/executive-branch/white-house-PLCUL000110.topichttp://www.latimes.com/topic/politics/defense/security-measures/national-security-agency-ORGOV0000104.topichttp://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/19/winter-solstice-dec-21/4116501/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/19/winter-solstice-dec-21/4116501/http://www.latimes.com/topic/politics/defense/security-measures/national-security-agency-ORGOV0000104.topichttp://www.latimes.com/topic/politics/government/executive-branch/white-house-PLCUL000110.topichttp://www.latimes.com/topic/politics/government/u.s.-congress-ORGOV0000131.topichttp://www.latimes.com/topic/politics/migration/immigration-reform-legislation-%282013%29-EVGAP00073.topichttp://www.latimes.com/topic/politics/government/barack-obama-PEPLT007408.topic


8/12

Page 8 The EMERALD STAR NEWS, Inc. Thursday, December 26, 2013

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9/12

Thursday, December 26, 2013 The EMERALD STAR NEWS Inc. Page 9

The 14 day Overview

Aquarius

1/202/18

Pisces

2/193/20

Aries

3/214/19

Taurus

4/205/20

Gemini

5/216/21

Cancer

6/227/22

Leo

7/238/22

Virgo

8/239/22

Libra

9/2310/22

Scorpio

10/2311/21

Sagittarius

11/2212/2

Capricorn

12/221/19

Help..Spread the word about this

newspaper to everyone you know!

Advertising specials going on NOW!!

Please thank those advertisers in this issue,

because of them we can continue to promotebusiness in Walton county. Thank you

Advertise with us!! Guaranteed the lowest price to fit any budget. Call today: 850.585.0262

Letter to the :

Do you have a feral

pig problem?

Call me I may be able to help.

Rockey 717-201-7062

I am currently in Freeportready to meet with anyone.Lets schedule something

now, TODAY!!

Get online, on the phone or in touch in any and every way as the week kicks off, especially if you have aromantic connection. You're on it when it comes to communication now. From sometime Tuesday throughmost of Thursday, however, it's internal talk that may occupy you. Find ways to tune into your inner voice

among the busy day-to-day. That voice has something major to say!

You're much more likely to give an indirect answer than a simple yes or no as the week begins, and hey, it'syour choice. Maybe you just need a little more time to think, because from sometime Tuesday through mostof Thursday, you're ready for action. Romance can really heat up, and your greatness is appreciated in all

areas of your life now.

You're full of extra enthusiasm and even some great new ideas as the week kicks off -- just be aware thatone or two of the little things could escape you now. From sometime Tuesday through most of Thursday,home is where your heart is. Get your digs in order and settle in; you'll deeply enjoy being mellow, whether

it's solo-style or with family or friends. Different, hotter energy comes your way

You're just not as practical as usual as the week begins. Avoid making any major financial moves or careerdecisions now, and any planning should be of the short-term variety. Then, from sometime Tuesday throughThursday, the energy's ideal for sharing your feelings; you'll recognize the right moment instead of kicking

yourself later. Go on, say it!

You've got a way with words that's extremely winning, and everyone's loving you. Make some moves in all

areas of life! Around Wednesday and Thursday, however, it's time to stop and reassess. Get yourself to sitdown and make a list of career goals, romantic ideals or just plain old errands. From Friday through most of

the weekend, you've got massive can-do energy, incredible intelligence and quite the sense of adventure.

Doing something a bit out of character can be extremely liberating at the beginning of the week, though youmay want to do it outside of the context of work (or at least make sure your boss isn't around!). Take a bold,

positive step, and then watch the stars push you further and faster from sometime Tuesday through Thurs-

day. Is romance on your mind? You're very good at it right now!

Friends are in your personal stars as the week kicks off. Workplace camaraderie feels great, and a new off-the-clock connection can truly blossom beautifully. Looks like you're in a mellow mood from sometimeTuesday through most of Thursday -- could it be that you're sorting something out? Perhaps something

deep? Don't forget to let your instincts weigh in; they're excellent now. You're feeling excellent yourselfWhile your mind's working splendidly as the week gets started, the brain-to-mouth connection could be alittle problematic. Don't turn off that internal editor, because how you say it is just as important as what yousay. Somebody, or maybe a whole crew of somebodies, is ready to lend you a hand around Tuesday,

Wednesday or Thursday. These people could be from work, in your family or even perfect strangers.

Your mind's sharp and your instincts are good as the week gets going, and it's an excellent time to sharewhat's in your heart. Anything (or even anyone) new is favored for you now. From sometime Tuesdaythrough most of Thursday, however, it's best to chill out and stick with what's working. Finish up a current

project instead of kicking off a fresh one, and save any major romantic stuff for later.

Handle all work-related stuff with extra care and your boss with kid gloves as the week begins. Resist theurge to do something risky. You'll be glad you did. From sometime Tuesday through most of Thursday,though, your intuition's spot-on. Oddly, getting what you want may just be a matter of letting your original

plan go. Around Friday and even this weekend, stressing out is one way to react to the situation; it's up to

you to find a better one.

Life looks busy at the beginning of the week, but don't forget to consciously choose your path. You're thecaptain of your destiny, and your actions speak at least as loud as your words. Relationships of all varietiesfigure prominently from sometime Tuesday through most of Thursday. Put the people factor first, and be

ready to negotiate and compromise, rather than ignore an issue or walk away. Life looks fabulous

Thinking clearly is key as the week gets under way. Figure out what makes you feel centered, grounded andhigh-functioning, then do it and take on the world. From sometime Tuesday through most of Thursday, youmay be having that 'grass is greener' sensation. Take your desire for something different into serious consid-

eration, but make any major changes slowly, in increments. Get ready big changes are coming your way.

Obama may 'take further action' to

protect Americans in South SudanSunday, President Barack Obama said hemay take further action to keep Americanssafe in the midst of escalating violence andfears of possible civil war in the newlyformed African country.Three hundred and eighty U.S. officials andcitizens have already been transported out ofSouth Sudan in addition to 300 residents ofother countries, Jen Psaki, the U.S. State De-

partment's spokesperson, said in a statement.Obama said in a letter that 46 U.S. military

personnel were sent to Bor on Saturday in theevacuation effort.As I monitor the situation in South Sudan, I

may take further action to support the secu-rity of U.S. citizens, personnel, and property,including our Embassy, in South Sudan,Obama said.The U.S. government is doing everything

possible to ensure the safety and security of

United States citizens in South Sudan. Fortheir safety and security, we will not outline

specific evacuation plans, the statementsaid.

On Saturday, four U.S. service members

were wounded when unidentified forces at-

tacked three U.S. aircraft attempting to

evacuate Americans from Bor. The involved

aircraft and personnel aborted the mission

and left the country, Obama said.

While the United Nations sends more peace-keeping soldiers into the violence-strickencountry, all civilian officials who are in-

volved with the U.N. Mission in the Republicof South Sudan (UNMISS) have been relo-cated to Jor, according to the U.N.We are not abandoning South Sudan. We

are here to stay, and will carry on in our col-lective resolve to work with and for the peo-

ple of South Sudan, Special Representativefor South Sudan and head of UNMISS HildeJohnson said in a statement.


10/12

Page 10 The EMERALD STAR NEWS, Inc. Thursday, December 26, 2013

NOTICE of PUBLIC HEARING

You are hereby notified of a Public Hear-ing to be held January 14, 2014 at 4:00

PM, or soon thereafter, to consider:

AN ORDINANCE OF WALTONCOUNTY, FLORIDA, AMENDINGCHAPTER 4 OF THE WALTONCOUNTY CODE TO ADD ARTICLE III,PROVIDING FOR REGULATIONOF

ROADSIDE FUNDRAISING UNDERCOUNTY JURISDICTION, ESTAB-LISHING ADDITIONAL CONDITIONSAND FEES; REQUIRING LIABILITYINSURANCE; PROVIDING FOR PEN-ALTIES, SEVERABILITY, AND AN

EFFECTIVE DATE.

The Meeting will be held at the SouthWalton Courthouse Annex located at 31Coastal Centre Blvd., Santa Rosa Beach,

FL

If anyone decides to appeal a decision ofthe Board with respect to this meeting that

person must ensure that a verbatim record

of the meeting is made.

Israeli ministers demand US stop spying

following revelations that NSA intercepted

emails

Senior Israeli officials on Sunday demanded an end to U.S. spying on Is-rael, following revelations that the National Security Agency interceptedemails from the offices of the country's top former leaders.It was the first time that Israeli officials have expressed anger since detailsof U.S. spying on Israel began to trickle out in documents leaked by for-mer NSA contractor Edward Snowden. The scandal also spurred renewedcalls for the release of Jonathan Pollard, a former American intelligenceanalyst who has been imprisoned in the U.S. for nearly three decades forspying on behalf of Israel."This thing is not legitimate," Israeli Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitztold Israel Radio. He called for both countries to enter an agreement re-garding espionage.

"It's quite embarrassing between countries who are allies,But top Israeli officials work on the assumption that they are being moni-tored. Officials use special secure lines for certain types of communica-tions, and for the most sensitive matters, issues are discussed only face toface in secure rooms.Even so, Israeli officials reacted with uncharacteristic anger toward theU.S., Israel's closest and most important ally.Lawmaker Nachman Shai, a member of the parliamentary foreign affairsand defense committee, which deals with intelligence matters, called foran urgent intelligence briefing on the reported spying.Shai called for a "full report about what we know, what we have done, and

just to find out."He added that he was "really surprised that my government, which is veryeasily responsive on any given issue, on this we keep silent, which is notthe right policy and right behavior.". Espionage is a sensitive subject be-tween Israel and the U.S. because of the Pollard affair.Pollard, a former civilian intelligence analyst, was sentenced to life in

prison in 1987 for passing classified material to Israel. Israeli leaders fre-quently call for his release and say his nearly three decades in prison are

punishment enough, but stiff opposition from the American military andintelligence community has deterred a string of American presidents fromreleasing him.

Since Pollard's conviction, Israel has promised not to spy on the U.S. Min-

isters stressed Sunday that Israel does not spy on the U.S. president ordefense secretary. "I think we should expect the same relations from the

U.S.," Steinitz said.

Democratic senator says

Obamacare could have

'meltdown,' hurt partyPresident Barack Obama's healthcare law couldhave a "meltdown" and make it difficult for hisDemocratic Party to keep control of the U.S.Senate next year if ongoing problems with the

program are not resolved, a Democratic senatorsaid on Sunday.Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who hasurged delaying a penalty for people who do notenroll for health insurance in 2014 under thelaw, told CNN that a transitional year wasneeded for the complex healthcare program,commonly known as Obamacare, to work."If it's so much more expensive than what we

anticipated and if the coverage is not as good aswhat we had, you've got a complete meltdown atthat time," Manchin told CNN's "State of theUnion" program.

"It falls of its own weight, if basically the cost

becomes more than we can absorb, absolutely."

Republicans have been highlighting the health-care law's difficulties as they seek to gain the sixseats they would need to win control of the 100-member Senate."It needs to turn around," Manchin said of

Obamacare. "I'm not going to say that I think wewill lose it (the Senate). It's going to be ex-tremely challenging. We have some very good

people who are truly there, I believe, for theright reason. They're going to be challenged forthe wrong reason."Obama acknowledged on Friday that that the

bungled launch of the healthcare law was hisbiggest mistake of 2013. His public approvalnumbers have dropped to historic lows over thelaw's debut.The president said more than 1 million people

have signed up so far for new coverage underObamacare through HealthCare.gov, which ser-vices 36 states, and 14 state-run marketplaces.A day earlier, Obama's administration said peo-

ple whose insurance plans were canceled be-cause of the law may claim a "hardship exemp-tion" to the requirement that all Americans musthave coverage by March 31 next year or face a

penalty.Manchin, a conservative Democrat whose stateof West Virginia has been increasingly trendingRepublican, has made no secret of his frustrationover the program's fits and starts.

Last month he introduced legislation to delay by

a year the $95 penalty for failing to sign up for

health insurance, saying Americans should not

be penalized while Obamacare is going through

its "transition period."

Canada's Anti-Prostitution Laws

Struck Down By Supreme CourtCanada's highest court struck down thecountry's anti-prostitution laws in their en-tirety Friday, including against keeping a

brothel.The 9-0 Supreme Court ruling is a victoryfor sex workers seeking safer working con-ditions because it found that the laws vio-lated the guarantee to life, liberty and secu-rity of the person. But the ruling won't takeeffect immediately because it gave Parlia-ment a one-year reprieve to respond with

new legislation.

Prostitution isn't illegal in Canada, but manyof the activities associated with prostitution

are classified as criminal offences.The high court struck down all three prosti-tution-related laws: against keeping a

brothel, living on the avails of prostitution,and street soliciting. The landmark rulingcomes more than two decades after the Su-

preme Court last upheld the country's anti-

prostitution laws.

The decision upheld an Ontario Court ofAppeal ruling last year that struck down the


11/12

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Waste Management 2014 Holiday

Pickup Schedule:

Christmas:North Walton on Friday 12/27/13.

South Walton on Saturday 12/28/13.

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Walton County Economic Develop-

ment Alliance (WCEDA) will hold its

monthly board meeting on Thursday,

January 9, 2014 at 12:00 PM in the

Walton County Administration Confer-

ence room located at 76 North 6th

Street, DeFuniak Springs, FL.

Two or more County Commissioners

may attend this meeting. These meet-

ings are open to the public.

In Womens Basketball, The NWFSC

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Raiders!

Leads Online

The Walton County Sheriffs Office is

now using LeadsOnline, the nationslargest online investigation systemwhich aides law enforcement agenciesto solve cases, recover stolen property,

provide rapid electronic access to trans-actions from thousands of reporting

businesses including scrap metal proces-sors, secondhand stores, Internet drop-off stores, and pawn shops across thecountry, as well as critical informationfrom eBay listings for criminal investi-

gations.

LeadsOnline can also help the commu-nity at large by keeping a secure, onlinerecord of valuable property. Citizenscan visit https://www.reportit.leadsonline.com/ to store

serial numbers, item descriptions, pic-tures and scanned receipts of personal

property which can be easily identified

in the event of theft or loss.

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12/12

Page 12 The EMERALD STAR NEWS Inc. Thursday, December 26, 2013

Ph: 850-835-4153 www.freeportwaterfront.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND PHOTOS - TEXT PROPERTY ID# TO 85377

NEW CUSTOM HOME IN

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On the 14th Fairway in gated community. 4BR/2.5BA, 2,651 sf.built w/high quality & designer touches! 10 and 16 ceilings.Oversized double garage. Custom kitchen w/granite tops.Enjoy golf, tennis, & the good life at Windswept! $294,900

SUNSETS ON THE BAY3BR/2BA home on two lots w/seawall & riprap. Approx.1,586 sq. ft. CW &S. Singlegarage. Fantastic screen porch to enjoyview of the Bay! ID#T1106437 $299,900

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2,143 sf. 3BR/2BA home on approx. a .5acre lot near Freeport City Park. No HOAfees! Great rm w/FP & extra family rm.ID #T1548069 $229,500

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Impressive, all brick, custom home with approx. 3,368 sq. ft.Built in 2003 with 3BR/3.5BA, high ceilings and many upgrades.Gourmet kitchen is a chefs delight! Large family room with builtin entertainment center. Separate living room area and formaldining room. Summer kitchen & storage area. Barn with 2,400sq. ft. plus double carports. Gorgeous oaks included, too!

ID# T1618171 Call for appt. to view $997,500

december 26, 2013 edition

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