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A Bristol man has been airlifted to Bay Medical Center following a crash on the Apalachicola River Bridge this morning. Sources say the accident occurred just before 7 a.m. when a man was on a motor scooter traveling westbound in close proximity to a garbage truck. The two vehicles made contact and the motor scooter driver was thrown, landing on the concrete. The bike was then run over by the truck. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. Traffic was delayed for over an hour. More details as they become available.

Three additional applicants stepped forward this week to apply for an appointment to the Liberty County Sheriff's post. Gene Revell, who served as a captain at the Leon County Sheriff’s Office from 1975 to 2011, submitted his application early this week. The County Record had already printed when two additional names were announced Tuesday afternoon. Eddie Joe White, a deputy with the Liberty County Sheriff's Office from 1997 to 2003 who ran for the sheriff's position in 2012, threw his hat into the ring, along with Jimmy Faircloth, who served as a Liberty County Sheriff's Office investigator and deputy from 1979-2004. Former Franklin County Sheriff Lloyd Alton “Skip” Shiver, Jr., and Rudolph Matas Hinson, who served as a sergeant with the Tallahassee Police Department from 1982 to 2012, have also applied for the appointment. Governor Rick Scott is expected to fill the vacancy by July 4.

The Calhoun County Sheriff's Office is investigating a death at a home on Hwy. 73 South in Clarksville. A family member discovered a man dead in the home around 7 p.m. Thursday night and alerted authorities. Investigators arrived to find blood all over the house. The man appeared to have died from several lacerations. After a thorough investigation, a suicide is suspected. As a precaution, the Sheriff's Office requested the FDLE Crime Lab collect evidence at the scene and an autopsy is being conducted. Results are expected by Saturday morning. Investigator Jared Nichols says there is no sign of foul play and he feels confident the death will be ruled a suicide. The name of the deceased is not being released until next of kin can be notified.

Nick Finch is fighting back after his recent suspension as Liberty County Sheriff and June 4 arrest for official misconduct.
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The Calhoun County Sheriff's Office has issued a silver alert for 76-year-old Clifton Henson. He was last seen leaving the Mossy Pond area of Altha in a 2001 black Dodge 1500 pickup (similar to the one in the photo). The license plate is a Florida tag, number AEBX41. Mr. Henson requires 24-hour care. It is believed Henson, who suffers from severe Alzheimer's disease, may be headed toward Bay County. The bed of the truck has a chrome strip along the rail. There is a dealership tag from Tennessee on the vehicle. If you have any information on his whereabouts, please contact the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office at 674-5049.

The Calhoun County Commission will meet Tuesday, June 18, at 6 p.m. at the Extension Office next to the old courthouse in Blountstown. Below is the agenda:

CALHOUN COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA
JUNE 18, 2013

6:00 P.M. CALL MEETING TO ORDER

6:01 P.M. PRAYER AND PLEDGE

6:02 P.M. APPROVAL OF JUNE 4, 2013 MINUTES

6:05 P.M. DONALD STANLEY, OPEN HEALTH DEPARTMENT ROOF BIDS

6:10 P.M. DAN CLEMONS, OPEN WEATHERIZATION & S.H.I.P. BIDS

6:20 P.M. ANGIE SMITH, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR

6:30 P.M. JOE WOOD, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, GRANTS COORDINATOR

6:45 P.M. ATTORNEY TIME

7:00 P.M. CLERK TIME

7:15 P.M. COMMISSION TIME

A woman who worked less than a month as a jail nurse for the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office has stepped forward with allegations.
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Liberty County School Superintendent Gay Uzzell has reportedly been hospitalized. According to Facebook messages from Uzzell and her daughter, she was admitted to the hospital last night and placed in the cardiac unit. Uzzell posted on The County Record Facebook page this morning that she initially thought she was experiencing a gall bladder problem, but a cardiac issue was discovered.

BY KELLI PEACOCK DUNN
News Editor

Liberty County School Superintendent Gay Uzzell was a no-show at Tuesday night's (June 11) emergency School Board meeting. However, one item she placed on the agenda created quite a stir.

A request by Uzzell to have a third party audit of the previous administration's financial record keeping and contracts was on the agenda. When it came up for discussion, Board Member Tina Tharpe made a motion to table the matter in light of an email she received just minutes before leaving to attend the meeting. Tharpe presented the email from Carr, Riggs and Ingram, the accounting firm Uzzell wanted to hire to conduct the third party audit. The email indicated a representative from the firm had met with Uzzell back in December, then entered into a contract with the school district in March with Uzzell reportedly signing an engagement letter to enlist the firm's services. The firm is now demanding payment of $13,000 from the school district for services rendered. The 5-page document suggested some type of accounting review had been performed, but not an actual audit.

"She can't engage them without authorization," Board Chairman Kyle Peddie stated. "Statutes are very clear about that." Peddie remarked he was also concerned about the fact the letter from the accounting firm had not been signed by an individual, simply by Carr, Riggs and Ingram.

As for what to do about the bill, Peddie stated, "The Board has not contracted with Carr, Riggs and Ingram. If [Ms. Uzzell] contracted with them, she owes $13,000. They will have to take that up with her."

The Board agreed unanimously to table the matter.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement advised The County Record Friday afternoon that the first applicant has stepped forward seeking the Liberty County sheriff's post. Lloyd Alton "Skip" Shiver, Jr. has thrown his hat in the ring to be considered for the appointment by Gov. Rick Scott. Shiver served as Franklin County Sheriff from 2009 until January of this year when his term ended. He did not seek re-election. As previously reported, Liberty County Sheriff Nick Finch has been suspended following his arrest for official misconduct. Should he be cleared in the case, he can return to office. Assistant Special Agent Carl Causey of FDLE's Pensacola region is serving as interim sheriff for 30 days until an appointment is made by Gov. Scott. Watch for more details and announcements about new applicants in our print edition Wednesday.