Hutchinson trial delayed again

An often-delayed murder trial has been delayed again, until Jan. 8, 2001.

That's because a complaint, lodged by the defendant against his defense lawyer with The Florida Bar, must be resolved before the trial can proceed.

The defense lawyer for Jeffrey Hutchinson, charged in the shotgun murders of a woman and her three children, filed a motion Wednesday seeking a delay.

But the filing was only a formality. Defense lawyer Stephen Cobb's request was heard, and granted, Friday by Circuit Judge G. Robert Barron.

The delay is the latest in a case that has dragged on for more than two years. It began on Sept. 11, 1998, when authorities were called to the Crestview home of Renee Flaherty, 32. They found the bodies of Flaherty and her children, Geoffrey, 8, Amanda, 6, and Logan, 4, all killed with a shotgun.

Mid-Bay Bridge work progresses

Workers from Granite Construction Co. successfully completed de-tensioning a damaged cable inside one of the spans of the Mid-Bay Bridge on Tuesday night.

The repair work was postponed from Monday to allow engineers and the contractor to evaluate alternatives for removing pressure from the broken cable.

The bridge was closed to traffic for several hours while the work was performed, but reopened early Wednesday morning. Vehicles with more than two axles or weighing more than 8,000 pounds are still prohibited from crossing the bridge.

Department of Transporta-tion officials estimate that the repair work should be completed by Friday. At that time, the bridge may be opened to all traffic.

Man charged with sexual battery

An 80-year-old Atlanta man has been charged with sexually abusing a young girl nearly two decades ago in Okaloosa County.

Jefferson Boswell Naugle is charged with one count of sexual battery.

Naugle inappropriately touched a girl repeatedly at the girl's home between 1982 and 1985, said an Okaloosa Coun-

ty Sheriff's Office arrest re-port.

The girl was 9 at the time the acts began, the report said.

The alleged victim, now 27, recently told investigators about the incidents.

She had told relatives about the touching four years ago, but was told the incidents probably happened too long ago for anything to be done about them, the report stated.

School Board approves budget

The Walton County School Board has unanimously approved a budget for the 2000-2001 fiscal year, and Walton County taxpayers won't have to worry about higher millage rates.

The $70,257,837 budget includes an 8.185 millage rate, a decrease of 1.29 miles from last year.

That equates to about a $10 difference for someone who owns an $85,000 home, said Jim McCall, director of finance for the Walton County School Board.

Council OKs FWB budget

Fort Walton Beach officials on Wednesday gave an initial OK to a $28.67 million budget for the next fiscal year that is based on a property tax rate of $4.97 for every $1,000 of taxable property value.

No one spoke at the public hearings on the tax rate and budget, and it took the City Council less than 10 minutes to complete the sessions.

The 2000-2001 budget is up almost 2.5 percent over the current year, not including $401,000 set aside for a one-time capital project to renovate a sewage pump station.

But city officials expect to grapple with rising health and dental insurance and workers compensation premiums.

The budget also includes fee hikes for building, inspection and cemetery services.

Homeowners can expect to pay $1.07 a month less in garbage collection fees because of savings in a new contract between Okaloosa County and Waste Management of Northwest Florida to operate the transfer station.

The final budget hearing is scheduled for Sept 26. at 7 p.m.