Pensacola News Journal from Pensacola, Florida • 5

Fort Beach The Pensacola Journal Wednesday. May 13. 1981 The Tough One, 6C Classified, 6-1 OC West Florida Briefs Okaloosa commission sticks to day guns which the base construction material used is clay of any hue which would discolor the south (county beachfront's pristine white sands. The first version of the ordinance, passed Dec. 30, 1980, addressed only red clay.

An amended version in April prohibited any clay base material which could discolor the sand. Barr argued Inlet Reef developers obtained what laboratory analysis determined to be "tan sand" and maintained the developer is not in violation of the amended ordinance because the "tan sand" was delivered to the construc tion site before the amended version of the ordinance was passed. Ransom admitted Inlet Reef was "not in violation of the law," prompting Barr to ask the statement be placed on the record. The purpose was not clear, but suggested a lawsuit against the county by Inlet Reef is pending. Echoing charges leveled earlier.

Ransom said "there is some mixing of red clay to make it brown" and evade the intent of the first version of the ordinance. See CLAY, Page 2C er Jame Moore argued their cases before commissioners took final action. Moore traced the history of the red clay ordinance, suggesting Commissioner Mike Mitchell, whose district is within the affected area, had led commissioners "to a decision that was erroneous." Mithcell motioned to lift the "red tag," halting construction at Inlet Reef, that was placed on the project by the county Planning and Zoning Commission. The motion, however, died when commissioners refused to second it Moore and others in Destin have objected to "grandfathering" of construction projects in By JEFF NEWELL Journal Statl Wrner HA LI MAR Okaloosa Commissioners wrestled once again with the sticky red clay problem Tuesday, voting to continue halting a Destin developer who claims to be losing $10,000 each day construction is halted. Commissioners also asked developers of Inlet Reef to remove what has been called variously red clay, yellow clay, red sand, yellow sand or tan sand.

In what looked more like a trial and could have been a dry run for the real thing Inlet Reef attorney Harry Barr and Destin civic lead JAIL ADDITION Okaloosa Commissioners gave county maintenance Superintendent Julian Chesser the go-ahead Tuesday to include a second story to a circular jail addition expected to house approximately 80 inmates with only one correctional officer to supervise them. The $225,000 project comes in the wake of a federal class-action suit against commissioners and the sheriff contesting confinement conditions. Commissioners also earmarked $200,000 from the county's capital outlay account to establish a jail improvement fund. tffyy I 1 otwmhw Fort alton voters OK referendum i i i EGLIN MUSEUM TO CLOSE Eglin Air Force Base officials announced Tuesday that the Air Force Armament Museum will close its doors effective Oct 1. After Valparaiso commissioners wary of assuming operation and maintenance requirements for 25 years dropped their sponsorship of a $200,000 state "Department of Natural Resources grant, the Air -Force Armament Museum Foundation reluctantly threw in the towel.

Last year Okaloosa voters rejected a county referendum which proposed loaning the foundation $300,000 to construct the museum. When Valparaiso commissioners announced they would serve as sponsors for the project in order for the foundation to receive the state grant, the museum appeared to have a new lease on life. But in March, the commission said it would not assume maintenance and operational responsibilities for 25 years required by the terms of the grant. Eglin officials said privately loaned artifacts will be returned to owners, and Air Force artifacts will go to Eglin for display or to the Air Force Museum at WrighVPatterson AFB, Ohio. A similar at-large system in Pensacola to the one Fort Walton Beach voters approved Tuesday was declared unconstitutional on the grounds it dilutes the power of black votes.

By JEFF NEWELL Journal Stall Writer FORT WALTON BEACH The power breakers met the power brokers head-on Tuesday and, with the exception of a single runoff to be decided May 26, turned out the incumbents and opted for a new way of electing council members. A referendum to limit council members to two consecutive terms passed with nary a hitch, 2,648 to 1,155 reinforcing the anti-incumbent fever that gripped most of the voters casting their ballots Tuesday. Voters also dumped the combined ward and at-large election system in favor of a seven-member council elected completely at-large. But concerns were already being expressed at City Hall late Tuesday when it became apparent an at-large system was on the way. A similar at-large system in Pensacola was declared unconstitutional on the grounds it dilutes the power of black votes.

Blacks in Pensacola took that city to federal court and won orders to switch the city to district-wide elections. However, Pensacola appealed the decision and voters in that city voted at-large Tuesday. It is doubtful the two-term limit was exactly what its proponents and opponents wanted. Councilman Al Grant began a petition drive earlier this year to place the question on the ballot, but was outflanked when the rest of the council voted to place a nearly identical question on the ballot which greeted electors in the voting machines Tuesday. The petition asked voters to simply limit council members to two consecutive terms, but the version which wound up on Tuesday's ballot exempted those now on HOSPITALITY SEMINARS A pair of identical "Hospitality Seminars" will be held for managers and employees of businesses dealing directly with the public today at the Holiday Inn in Fort Walton Beach.

Heading the seminars will be Doris Wilks, director of the Hospitality Education Center at Florida State University. Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce president Gene Smith is urging employers in banking, restaurants, motels, service stations, retail outlets, travel agencies and other businesses to schedule employees for one of the twp sessions. There is no charge for the- seminars, to be held from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 2 p.m.

to 4 p.m. Further information is available from the chamber. council and those elected this year. Florida Moral Majority spokesman Jim Harkins said earlier this week he would seek resignations from council members who opted for an end-run around the petitioners. If the resignations aren't received, said Harkins, Moral Majority may begin a recall drive.

Tuesday's record turnout was a significant factor. "If the turnout is light, the incumbents are back in," predicted Grant last week. "But if it's heavy, we'll turn out an anti-Rigdon and an anti-Hill vote." Tuesday's results confirmed the prediction. Longtime Councilman C.H. (Bull) Rig-don lost to challenger and real estate agent John Franklin, mustering only 1,606 votes to Franklin's 2,347.

Group II Councilman Charlie Hill is in a May 26 runoff with city Board of Adjustment member Pat Thornber. Of the 11,255 registered city voters, the 3,567 voting represented 32 percent of the total possible vote. Before Tuesday, the record stood at 28 percent, set in 1973, according to the League of Women Voters. Stall photo by Brian Doyle Bart Fleet, with his wife, Tisha, and son Gabe make voting a family outing Tuesday Walton beach travel ban stays SUTTON RESIGNS DeFunlak Springs City Administrator John Sutton has resigned his post, effective July 17, 1981, "for economic reasons." Sutton, hired in 1980, told the city council he is unable to relocate his family, economically, to meet the city requirement that city officials must live in the city limits. Councilmen have extended the usual six-months relocation requirement for a second six months that ends in July.

"Gentlemen, this (the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women) Is a feminist group" said Rep. Ken Boles. "There are other ladies' groups doing the same things." have issued about 200 permits that will expire on June 1. The permits will not be renewed until the board decides whether to follow the results of the vote and ban all vehicles or amend the ordinance in a compromise that will permit limited use of the beaches. Attempts at total prohibition and the compromise failed Tuesday with the only unanimous vote coming in the proposal to withhold permits for the time being.

"The people have told us what they want and we ought to listen," said Commission Chairman Lawton Mathews, who proposed an all-out ban. But District 5 Commissioner Billy McLean said the poor showing in the balloting did not "represent the county," and proposed instead a compromise that would draw a line at Big Red Fish Lake with the beaches closed east of the line and open to the west. See BEACH, Page 2C By MARY JONES Journal Sun Writer DEFUNIAK SPRINGS In the wake of a straw-vote rejection of motor vehicles on county beaches, Walton County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday that no permits will be issued or renewed until they formally decide the issue. In effect, all travel on county beaches is banned until the commissioners decide whether to retain the ordinance regulating permits or repeal it to keep all vehicles off the beaches. Beach patrols by county sheriffs deputies and volunteer reports by beachwatchers will serve as enforcement for illegal use according to Sheriff Quinn McMillian.

In May 5 balloting, those voting rejected the idea 2-1 of permitting vehicles on the beach, with 489 favoring permits and 985 voting against it Under a current ordinance, the county commissioners Boles scorns women's panel, draws furious House debate Jail officer arrested for sex abuse RETIREE PROGRAM Walton County Commissioners will support the Retired Senior Volunteer Program with a $1,000 contribution to the Tri-County Community Council, Inc. The funds were included in the 1980-81 budget. RIGHT-OF-WAY A building converted to a tavern in Blue Gulf Resort may be located in a street right-of-way, according to engineer L.G. Wilkinson, but he'll need to make a survey to be sure. "It appears that the addition build on the west side of the building is on the street right-of-way.

The addition on the north side of the building could easily be on the right-of-way," said Wilkinson. "The only way I could say definitely that the additions are on the county right-of-way is to do some extensive surveying within this subdivision. This surveying wold have to be to a degree that would stand up in court in the event that it should come to this," said the engineer who serves as a consultant to the county. 'His motion failed by a 68-41 vote. "Gentlemen, this is a feminist group" said Boles.

"There are other ladies' groups doing the same things." Rep. Elaine Gordon, D-Miami, argued that the commission is a valuable tool in counseling Gov. Bob Graham and the legislature on such issues as family violence and child abuse. She said the commission has as much value as other state-funded See BOLES, Page 3C By JAMIE STARBUCK PLANT Journal Staff Writer TALLAHASSEE State Rep. Ken Boles, D-Ft.

Walton Beach, prompted fiery debate Tuesday in the House of Representatives when he charged that the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women is an unnecessary "feminist" organization that uses tax money to travel "and have socials." Boles proposed slashing the commission's budget in order to fund programs for emotionally disturbed children. ployed as a correctional officer at the county jail for the past four years, was indefinitely suspended from the department after being charged with sexual battery. The girls reportedly went to Lake Worth to visit their father two weeks ago and told him of the alleged sexual incidents. The father reported that to the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Department, which in turn contacted Okaloosa County officials. By BRIAN DOYLE Journal Stall Writer SHALIMAR An employee of the Okaloosa, County Sheriffs Department was released on $25,000 bond Tuesday after being arrested earlier in the day for allegedly having sexual relations with two teenage girls.

Corbett Wilkinson, 38, of 584 Robinson Avenue, Crestview, turned himself in to Sheriff Larry Gilbert about 9 a.m. and was arraigned by County Judge Ben Gordon shortly after. A sheriffs department spokesman said Wilkinson allegedly has been having sexual contact with a 12-year-old girl and 13-year-old girl since 1977. The girls' eight-year-old sister was placed in a state Youth Services home after reporting that she, too, had been sexually abused. Wilkinson, who has been em Anchors wants committee to head off race problems officer, two representatives from the black community and two residents representing the north and south county areas.

He declined to name those selected to serve, saying five of seven committments have been received and he is awaiting the other two. Asked if the committee would actively solicit representatives from the fledgling Cuban community in Okaloosa County and members of the established Indochinese community, Anchors replied, "If they're black." ter an Okaloosa sheriffs deputy circulated a so-called "hunting guide" detailing various ways of killing blacks. When local blacks pressed for the firing of Deputy David Murphy for circulating the racially inflammatory letter, Sheriff Larry Gilbert refused. Gilbert said a reprimand was sufficient and Murphy later apologized for the incident 1 think to take that up again would be counterproductive to the committee's intent," said Anchors. "It polarized everyone concerned." Jim Sawyer, vice-president and spokesman for a coalition of local black groups known as the Executive Action Committee, also called the Black Action Committee, said he agreed.

"We're just not kicking it anymore," said Sawyer. "We stated publicly how we felt and if anything more comes from that, it will be the county's and the sheriffs burden to bear. We can't continually fight it. "We have other things to get on to, such as keeping that sort of attitude from pervading the police and other public offices." Sawyer said his initial reaction to the news a committee would be formed in Okaloosa County "is a positive sign that somebody's willing to talk," but was "startled that By JEFF NEWELL journal Stan Writer SHALIMAR Responding to a recommendation by the state Human Relations Commission, Okaloosa Commissioner Larry Anchors said Tuesday he is forming an "Okaloosa Review Committee" to head off problems such as the recent "hunting guide" incident. But Anchors said the committee, when formed, will not address that question.

The state HRC recommendation that Okaloosa form an organization to address potentially explosive racial matters stemmed from protests to the state by local blacks af the information was released without any consultation with the parties that were primarily involved in the issues that brought this about. That wbuld have been the courteous thing to do." Sawyer said the EAC "will look into this and see what we're dealing with" before fully endorsing Anchor's concept. Local NAACP chapter president Jim Miller said he would decline comment "until I have an opportunity to study it further." Anchors said the seven-member committee will be composed of a representative for the Board of County Commissioners, a sheriffs representative, another constitutional I.