Undisposed Defamation Lawsuit Against Chamber and Director
The comment about a lawsuit against the chamber from Pam Feagle caused some curiosity so I did some research. I found an open defamation court case in the Leon County Clerk of Court of Pamela Feagle vs. Dawn Taylor, Executive Director and the Perry Taylor County Chamber of Commerce, Inc. It makes for an interesting read seeing who has been subpoenaed for depositions. There are several of our local leaders on that list. You can find it on the Leon County Clerk of Court website, but you can Click Here for a direct link to the case. I would recommend clicking the "Dockets" tab to see everything that has happened so far and also to see the list of those depositioned; it is about half way down. I have absolutely no idea what the defamation suit is about or who did what, but the case is set for jury trial in August of this year and has been absolutely no coverage on the matter in local news outlets. Wonder why? Open discussion...
*Sorry about bad link; it is fixed.
BM
Bad link to court case fixed.
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Questions! Who is paying for the defense's (Chamber of Commerce) lawyer? Does the Chamber have insurance? With all the nitwits in Taylor government and related bodies do we have sufficient coverage? Our (Tax payers) incompetency insurance cost must be staggering!
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Well, sadly the fact is that as long as Dawn Taylor / Chamber is purchasing ads and related money makers from / for Perry Newspapers, the paper will not print such an item. This has long been the way a lot of items stay out of the local paper.
The Chamber as far as I know does not have a legal defense fund, so you have to wonder if public funds are being used? Member dues? Grant Funds? TDC (bed tax) funds? What other funds would the Chamber have available? They apparently, like Perry Newspapers raise funds from the various events promoted, such as the Blue Grass Festival, Forest Festival, Golf Tournament, ect. The Chamber gets funds form the event and the paper gets the advertising revenue from the related tabloid for the event.
From what I remember about the Feagle fiasco; (1) Dawn Taylor and other Chmaber Board members had the habit of producing a fake newsletter with salacious headlines and such and passed it among themselves (Cline Moore, Daryl Gunter,.....). (2) Well apparently one of these fake issues got sent out with the real newsletter and had one of those fake salacious headlines / articles naming Pam Feagle and Doug Everett. (3) At the time various Chamber Board members spent a day going around collecting the newsletter bulk mailed to a lot of folks, but some went to our local legislative delegation and others outside the potentates reach.
Well it did not take long for this to get back to Pam Feagle, she was in the middle of a campaign for county commissioners and rightly so Mrs. Feagle feels she has been harmed not only locally, but to folks across the regio and in Tallahassee that she had worked with as a member of the City of Perry City Council.
Many depositions haqve been taken and others blamed for this fiasco, everyone from Chamber Board members to computer dealers to computer repair techs. Since Dawn Taylor is the CEO of the Chamber and it was her newsletter....whose at fault. Given the composition of the Chamber Board, their maturity level, their particular political views and lack of focus on local businesses, I think they are all to blame.
When a local chamber of commerce becomes an arm of a local political party, group and group of cronys it ceases to be a value to the members and community. Not unlike the TCDA, the Chamber has become a shadow of it's former self. Such a shame with the current economy, that chamber resources are being used in a lawsuit based on the actions of it's immature and unprofessional board when the business community needs the resources the most!!!!
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Very truly spoken. This city/county has been operating that way forever, and most of the nation for that matter. It is obviously simple to keep situations under wraps when money exchanges hands or the 'I scratch your back, you scratch mine' thing happens. The latter is fine if you are helping your fellow neighbor, but when running a government or community it is not; not when hard-working, voting tax-payers are being deprived of crucial information that is beneficial to making a decision of whom you want representing you. When you vote these type of individuals in office, then you get the same type of people appointed to boards and organizations.
I remember something about this after reading your comment, and I would be willing to bet if the truth were told in the paper when it happened, one of the main culprits would not be sitting in the elected position they are sitting in today, if what was told to me is true. I still can't understand how this person has risen to the power they seem to have, or at least what they seem to think they have. It puzzles me how this one and others can sit up there and pass judgment on others knowing who they really are. To sit in a group and ridicule and humiliate another and look down on those that have less, I can't figure out what part of their conscious they turn off. It is often said a nice, decent person will never make it or be in politics, but that is what we truly need nationwide. People that really care about and respect their fellow human being; who will represent a poor man before a rich man. I hope that one day people will get fed up with it here and everywhere, but that is a big hope.
One main thing I see wrong with this lawsuit is that the actual participants in that Chamber office were not brought out in public and named and sued in the lawsuit, instead of just the Director and the Chamber as a whole.
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What I understod is that Dawn Taylor has stated that if she goes down she will be taking a coulpe of folks with her, but that was some time ago. Perhaps that is the strategy, string this lawsuit along and make it appear less serious. I wonder who / which local charlatans / potentates are involved with this smear campaign that was done on Pam Feagle? I know that there was constant infighting at the City Council between Feagle and Emily Ketring and Ketring was deposed in the case. The list could be a "whose who" of Chmaber members: (1) Greg Parker-now a judge, Cline Moore-chairperson, Daryl Gunter-fromer county commissioner and now Kmart EMployee and budding florist, and many other "young leaders" who have failed the maturity test! The lis could go on and on!
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Okay, now I remember what that was all about. I thought I had read about that in the local paper some time back. Hopefully they'll cover the trial this summer.
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It is my understanding that the "newspaper" get over $60,000 a year in legal and other county advertising.
Is this true?
What a crock - I gotta tell you the newspaper operators and the whole participating clan should be run out of town on a rail. What a bunch of hypocrites.
Is this a good Christian way to do business?
A newspaper has the moral obligation to print all the news - not leave out that part that might affect their finances. The paper makes a point of saying that nobody is left out of the booking desk. How about printing ALL the news - liars and cheats by ommission if this is indeed true.
Our local "government" and other assorted characters make me ashamed to tell folks where I'm from. These guys operate like a crime family with incestous overtones.
Taylor county is becoming the laughing stock of Florida on so many fronts.
If I start my own newspaper do you think people would support it? I might like a shot at the county money that is available. A little competition is a good thing and my paper would be much, much more interesting. I promise to limit the number of photos of the usual suspects. It is the same old peckerheads week after week.
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Amen! I would support your newspaper! In the meantime we have to use this blog to get the Paul Harvey version of what goes on in our community. I have to correct one point you made however, This county and all of it's crooks have been the laughing stock of the regio and state for some time. It is a know fact of the level of corruption. If you wanted to give this county an enema you would start at the courthouse, make you way over tto the BOCC building a a few local businesses! LOL!!!!
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I would be glad to support a new, news paper. I have also noticed through the years if the City of Perry Police Department happens to make a mistake or one of there employees it’s all over the news paper but you never here what go’s on in the Sheriff Office or about there employees getting fired over breaking laws or morel conduct there’s a lot of cover-up there.
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The original supporters / financiers of our current constable were the Faircloths and related cronys. Enough said!
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How very true you are, there's a lot of cover-up with the Sheriff and the Sheriff's Office. Bummy sure like to hide a lot form the people of this county. Because he knows if most of it was to get out he would not keep being elected
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Do not forget that the defendant's brother works at the paper as well (Dawn Taylor's brother is Mark Viola). Along with the steady stream of ad dollars Taylor spends at the paper, it helps that he brother works there as well. The paper has always covered up when the "good kids" behave.
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I did not realize that were related but I see now - the eyebrows give it away. I am stunned. What a newspaper!! No integrity, no character and amoral to boot, lying and deceiving by omission.
It (the paper) must be proud - all these columns and editorials about morals and the right things to do. Why am I not surprised? I'm serious about the paper, but I need readers. How about an online paper that reports on county officials, their buddies and henchmen and the "projects they got going. I've said it before, this little site has got to be putting some pressure on these deadheads, it (this site) has become a collective conscience for the people (us, me and you) that are getting screwed on a daily basis. Nothing short of a full fledged peaceful revolution will get the ticks off this little piece of Heaven we call Taylor county.
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I've been reading up on defamation, and based on what I've read Feagle's attorneys could have a tough time.
For one thing, Feagle could easily be classified as a "public figure", and for defamation claims against public figures to stick, malice has to be proven. I don't see any malice in this case; there was no intent to cause harm, and in fact the very mailing of the newsletters was unintentional.
Additionally, it seems to me the newsletter could be classified as parody or satire, which makes defamation even harder to argue.
But I'm not attorney, and juries have certainly made some strange decisions--so we'll see how it turns out!
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Good points. I am more concerned with the lack of professionalism from the chamber and related board members, employees (first this - then recent theft, local elected officials involved and the local cover-up. It is no wonder we lack leadership in our community and the decline in our community can be traced to such inept local "leaders". Things are really going to need change before our community reverses the decline over the last 10 or so years!
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SEEMS TO ME THAT YOU GUYS ARE THE "PECKERHEADS" AND HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. ALL YOU WANT TO DO IS BITCH AND COMPLAIN. I think if you open your mouth you should do a little more research.
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The events that have been discussed in the thread are all true. I think people who have commented have made comments based on there understanding of what has happened. (1) There was a derogatory item in a newsletter sent out by the Chamber that provided a satire about Pam feagle, and (2) there was a theft of checks and the checks were cashed by a Chamber employee with apparently a drug or other problem.
The question on why very little of this ends up in our local newspaper is valid. The concern voiced about the local organizations and any value they have in our community is valid since they receive taxpayer funds.
If there is more to the story, more to research, please let us know. I think everyone who has commented has some concern about our community and appearance of the lack of leadership in what could be called local "leaders".
A lot of folks want these "leaders" to put forth some solutions to our community that is faltering and in a rapid decline with increased crime, lack of econoomic opportunities and an education system bankrupt.
I tried to find the definitiion of "peckerhead" and in terms of being slang it is: (1) having the intelligence of a man's penis, and (2) an unpleasant male person, said to use his penis (pecker) to think rather than his brain. Both definitions have a sexual connotation which lead back to the beginnning of this blog in reference to an inappropriate salacious reference to Pam Feagle in a newsletter distributed by the Chamber.
Yes our community and it's leaders continue fail, that much is true as well!
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Please, (Anonymous posted 4-16-09 @ 3:54PM), Please enlighten us with your wisdom and research. Is anything in these postings not true? And if so, how do you know? Please, oh wise one share what you know. There is much TO BITCH AND COMPLAIN about. As previously stated, Peckerheads fit the definition.
And I will open my mouth when I damn well want to. Again, please share your vast knowledge on this topic with the rest of us tax paying citizens who have to put up with incompetent county officials, poor newspapers,quasi-county officials and others that are screwing us with their poor character, lack of good judgement and questionable integrity.
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ANy updates on this fiasco?
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According to the Leon County Clerk of Court case file website, on 8/5 the plaintiff sent the defendants an offer for settlement of judgment. Also, they are set to pick a jury on 8/14 and trial is set for 8/17. What still burns me is how the Chamber and Dawn Taylor is the only ones named in the lawsuit. I still don't get why the ones that actually did it and thought it was funny and acted like children were not included. Maybe if she wins this she plans on suing them individually. I hope so, because as elected officials and board seat holders, they need to be brought out into the light and HOPEFULLY turn the public off enough to permanently remove them and keep them from holding a seat here or anywhere for that matter.
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You are right and the other absurd thing is that the local outhouse rag does not feature any of this information or has covered it at all! The Chamber staff have to be part of the problem as well. I do not see how they have any members.
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SO what happened to the Pam Feagle case? Why would someone be so cruel?
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To answer your last question first, having a pretty good idea of who the actual culprits are, it is childish and irresponsible and if they are found at fault, they should be removed from any offices they hold and any professional license should be revoked. At the very least, it should be publicly announced in papers and TV so that the public knows what kind of people they are supporting.
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Yes the quality of volunteers / appointees has been less than stellar for several years now. I was amazed at one of the appointees on the TCDA listed in the paper this week. At what point does the chamber and TCDA actually elect/appoint board members that actually bring something to the organization's table. This county is void of leadership, at least people who could provide leadership and would volunteer. With the lack or respect these organizations have in the community, it is no wonder the "volunteers" bring little time-talent and treasure. More of the same cronyism and political appointee nonsense!
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Who is the newly annointed sorry I meant appointed?
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These cruel people should sit in jail and think about what they have done and pay restitution.
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Jail for defamation? That seems a bit harsh, don't you think? Cruelty isn't necessarily against the law.
Here's some information (albeit from California--I'm not sure how Florida's statutes compare):
http://www.ivanhoffman.com/defamation.html
Note that the attorney who wrote that article states that "[p]ublic figures including, among others, celebrities, politicians and those who thrust themselves or are thrust into public events, enjoy significantly less protection from statements that might otherwise be deemed to be defamatory than do 'ordinary' persons."
Ms. Feagle would seem to fall into that category.
And remember some years back when Jerry Falwell was insulted in a parody by Hustler Magazine? In the end, Hustler was found not to be liable for defamation and not to be responsible for paying damages for emotional distress to Falwell. The Supreme Court ruled that anyone could tell that the work was a parody and untrue.
I haven't seen the "newsletter" that started all of this. But if it's obvious parody/satire, it seems to me that Ms. Feagle--a public figure--is going to have a difficult time winning a defamation suit. The defendants may have shown poor judgment, but it appears they meant no harm. The publication was meant to be joke, and an inside joke at that; my understanding is that it was never meant to be distributed in the first place.
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Obviously neither of you are from Taylor CO. and don't know the FACTS. Read before your write. Other words do your homework and to the atty glad you arent mine.I would hate for someone to ho on "Hustler" magazine..
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The great thing about a forum like this is that we can all share the facts as we know them.
If you've got knowledge that will contribute to our understanding of this issue, I would encourage you to share it.
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Well the fact that this happened is sad for all of the people and organizations involved. The more absurdity of this fiasco is that the "local newspaper" has yet to report on it or the issue of a student having a gun on campus. The lack of credability fo a lot of these folks and organizations is alarming. It is no wonder businesses do not want to locate here and creat jobs or exisiting businesses have lost faith and wwill not create any new jobs. That leaves the community ripe for any job(s) that no other community would want or create for numerous reason, oh yeah and TCDA is no promoting the bringing of every scumbag low-life construction worker to town for the pipeline project. Lock you valuables up, hide you daughters and LOL watch the money just flow like a river! Thanks TCDA!!! Us tax-payers appreciate your efforts and the return on our investment in your organization! Putz! Let's just hope TCDA never exercises it's ability to impose a tax on us all as a special district!
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I would challenge you and some of the other complainers to join some of the boards that you continue to complain about and make that BIG difference that you all say you could make. Oh that's right on here you don't have to say who you are.....
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And challenge is your name lol
Before you criticize people take a look at the qualifications of those board members and the application of those board appointments. Review of the applications for planning board will enlighten you and you will understand how silly your comments are. It’s a family affair the lowest standard for qualification is guaranteed acceptance if you are who you are instead of what you can bring to the table.
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So true!!! You got to be part of the potentate club. Most reputable citizens would not want to throw their name in the mix on an application with the likes of the milk deliverer and others. The smell would be just awful! The BOCC would just try their best to make an applicant feel unworthy!
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You don't have to say who you are - you just told on yourself you are the MAIN PLAYER and I mean Player. Poor Ms. Pam being are the mercy of evil doers like you and "your friend" yeah you know who.
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It is not as simple as just volunteering and wanting to volunteer. These folks hardly want new folks in the mix and on their turf. You are not realizing the point that these organizations are closed clubs for the few and why not overtly excluding others, they do not include most of our community. There have been many instances in the past were these "few" are profiting from their association and all you have to do is follow the money!
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So....what is the status now?? Has the case been settled? What do ya'll think the outcome will be?? I am not quite sure myself.
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What is the status??
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Jury selection is scheduled for Friday, and the trial is schedule to begin on Monday.
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Oh great, and yet to be mention by our community media mafia faux news!
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Who is the attorney for Pam? Contact info needed?
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Do you have to be member of a church, or go to church to join these boards, I really want to help, I am confused as to what the requirements are, as for church, how many people in my family or who I know
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The Chamber Board is "elected" by the membership from a ballot, you guessed it, put together by the chamber potentates. Ballots are tabulated by ???? I do not know how the ballot is assembled, but think that if you are a "member" you may be able to request to be on the next ballot.
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Mrs. Feagle's attorney on record is Steven R. Andrews, who must be in Tallahassee. There also appears to be an additional lawsuit filed by Mrs. Feagle against City Councilman Doug Everett, filed 2/15/2010 and Mr. Everett "served" on 2/16/2010. The Case number is 37 2010 CA 000541. I wonder if this explains the rumor that Councilman Everett will not be seeking re-election this year. Anyhow, the cases are online at the Leon County Clerk of Court's website. It appears to be a trial in the near future, all of the potentates, charlatans and "leaders" of the community have been "served" and a few others. I am sure the "local newspaper" will be doing a full feature story soon since several of their current and former "reporters" have been deposed and "served". This could get interesting.
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I understand that Attorney Andrews is in town today trying to serve subpoenas on a lot of folks around town for a trial that begins next week (Monday).
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I was wondering if that Glen guy was subpoenaed for going to church, he may have some input on the case, this way he do a favor for some friends before he gets into office.
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God bless Glen, he like us all are sinners. It appears everyone in town know about this Chamber-Everett case, everyone except the "local newspaper". LOL, this and that kid with a gun, how much does it cost to keep an item out of the "local newspaper"? A pack of cigs? some whiskey? a beer? a bass fishing lure? some other vice (you know)? Hair grease?
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I saw him on the news - heard he was a not of good person. Anyone check him out. So did Pam really do what the paper said? Boy our town has really changed over the years what has happened to our close nit life. I think the whole bunch is up to their necks in lies. I read some dirt on her attorney so what does that say? I remember when the investigator was over here talking to people. She was nice but everybody knows the truth about the whole thing. I read the Leon county court page and the people involved makes you wonder whose in bed with who. What is our Chamber saying and what about our Chamber attorney? Who is Glen? When I saw the woman investigator at a local restaurant we had already been told she was in town, but why? we saw here a few times then she disappeared did they get to her to?
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I think the Glen guy who is someone who goes to church and is going to run for School Board. I got this fron reading this blog.
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I heard there is a chartered bus that is taking everyone to the Leon County Courthouse on Monday morning. I would love to go to Tallahassee and sit in the courthouse and see all of these potentates and charlatans from Trailer County waiting to be called as witnesses. It is going to be a who's who's of local mental defectives, including the plaintiff and defendant. LOL!!!! A ship of fools sailing out to sea!
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I say we all go and sit in the peanut gallery and see (1) who we should ouster from office in the fall, (2) who the true fools are in our community, (3) see what type of "leaders" we have in this commmunity, and (4) see what the "local newspaper" refuses to report on.
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MAYBE THAT GLEN GUY COULD JUST FLY EVERYONE UP THERE TO tALLAHASSEE, THAT WAY WE COULD USE THE AIRPORT AND LET THE cOUNTY PAY THE EXPENSES.
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I heard this afternoon that the case had been "settled". I guess this means all of the mental defectives and retardlicans (our community leaders) can save face. I was so looking forward to going to Tallahassee next week and watching the retardlican convention in the Leon County courthouse! I guess we will just have to be entertained by new Chamber-TCDA-BOCC-City fiascos. I think the powers to be should take this opportunity to clean house at the Chamber and other places and we as voters should replace these fools this fall! Where are yoou tea-baggers?
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All of these doings for 3-4 years and not a peep out of the "local newspaper", why not send that kid with the deer rifle from school over to that "local newspaper" and let them print his non-story as well. What a joke our local media is, I say send the folks back to Live Oak, the last place they were run out of town~!
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The word out at the sports complex, is that Glen guy steped in and got everything settled for the Chamber, boy that sure saved alot of time and trouble for the elected officials and board members in this town, Thanks Glen you saved the county some money there.
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I wonder what funds were used when they "settled". Given the fact that the Chamber is a membership dues organization, were member dues used? Given the fact that the Chmaber gets funds from the City and County, were tax-payer or any other public funds used? Given the fact that the Chamber administers the bed-tax funds, were bed-tax funds used? Given the grants the Chamber always seeks, were grant funds used? I hope none of the funds listed above were used, the Chamber members, tax-payers and others need to know. It is my hope that the little band of retardlicans passed the hat and came up with funds to "settle", but I doubt that with all of these wal-mart retardlicans we have runing the Chmaber. This is something the tea-baggers need to come out and protest, using funds for the mistakes of our leaders, when everyone should be spending resources on retaining and creating jobs! Way to go community leaders, another drunken feather in your cap, you look foolish, all of you!
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Well, if in fact it was settled, I can't say that I am happy about it. I was looking forward to the exposure of those involved. I am sure they are breathing a humongous sigh of relief. I looked at the docket part of the case online and it does not say it was settled yet, but it did say there were depositions taken or recorded yesterday. The only court date I saw canceled was for 3/9/10 and it was a Motion Hearing to be in the Judge's Chambers. I honestly hope that it is not settled because I believe that if this was taken to public court, we would have no problem seeing a new face or two in elected positions and on boards. We need adults in those seats not the children currently there. Settled=Disappointment for me.
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Kudos is more like Cujo. A rabid dog wondering around salivating not knowing if he is coming or going. Your given facts are just simply not true. Talk about defamation? Check your "facts" before you post again. You have more untruths in your post than truths!
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It is a shame that all of these folks mixed up in this little fiasco will not be brought to light. Our "leaders" need to mature a little, the taylor county voters have a long history of electing the least likely to succeed in the real world, real business environment. I wish that a lot of folks would go to Leon County and read the court file and depositions of this case, I plan on doing just that. You would then see how inappropriate some of our leaders, the management team at the city and county and some of our business owners act in public and private. I have also heard the case settled, too bad.
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Rumor from the chamber was that Steve Andrews was going to kick the chamber's butt and expose a lot of financial misconduct and embarrass local city officials. Steve Andrews is the best defamation attorney in North Florida, he represented Kathryn Harris when she sued her family.
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Yay for the lawsuit against Doug Everett. If I could sell Ware Oil short I would.
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i want to read the Mayors deposition and see what college actually she matriculated from. Anybody know?
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If anyone decides to go up there and review the court documents and wants to get copies, I would be more than happy to post them online for review, as they should be public record.
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What is going on with Doug Everett and Pam Feagle? Why the law suit against him?
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The mayor and college? I doubt the mayor finished highschool, albeit at a later date through GED. As for college, community college? Four year college? All I would give the mayor credit for is getting someone in her family to write the papers for classes. lol. The mayor has matriculated through a lot of things, traditional education and school not being one of them. lol.
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Maybe all of you should check with the florida bar regarding the complaints against "an unnamed" in this blog attorneys name. Think he is a big spoon in the pot. So how much did he get and his client? anyone know? This was crap. Our town "leaders" should check out who is out to get them and us before stroking a check no matter what. This is like the Enquire magazine. Meet me somewhere I will slip out of my clothes will sue you and spilt the money@!! jeezzz AND WHO IS GLEN??
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that would be smooth. she to stupid and so are you.be needing a job soon.
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WHO IS GLEN? AND WHERE CAN WE FIND HIM?
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Anonymous, who are you talking about?
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red
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maybe mt
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If you are referring to me "Red" the investigator as someone just showed me this paper, you may address me with a name and number if you have something to say to me. The blog about me not being around is correct I no longer work on that case - MY CHOICE.
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You areso jealous of me and I know who you are. You always call me "Red" and you are no different than the players in this case, affairs, playing dirty, "talking about others" stirring the pot - hey you know my number be a MAN and call me or email me I will deal with your wimpy crap. I dare you
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I was never a Pam Feagle fan while she was a member of the city council, but the fact is that you had a collection of potentate wanna-bes, charlatans and other elected officials acting in an immature, unethical, tawdry way. Some of these individuals are still in office and some considered "leaders" in our community. Sad for an organization that depends on members and the support of members, sad for our community. It is no wonder that we cannot retain or creat new jobs given the incompetence of these "leaders" and the same ilk infecting the TCDA that has been discusses so many times as well. This is truely the downfall of our community and we have these folks to blame. It is a shame the case was "settled" and these fools will continue to had the facade to hide behind, but we all know what fools we have and who the fools are.
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All I can say is thanks to Glen all this got settled. He must Have worked hard on this matter to keep out of the papers.So from all of us, I want to say thanks to Glen, job well done.
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I want to thank Glen too, he did good, Thanks Glen
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Unethical? Add criminal as well. Follow the "illegal" money to these people and their personal and business accounts. Start with the Premier and Hampton Inn connection. Look at the all the "settlements, investments and contracts".
"but the fact is that you had a collection of potentate wanna-bes, charlatans and other elected officials acting in an immature, unethical, tawdry way. Some of these individuals are still in office and some considered "leaders" in our community."
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Get-um RED
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Thanks above comment - you are normal and obviously know these jokers was to well!
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Ok - I received a phone call tonight that the atty Mr. Andrews and others involved believe I (the investigator) has been writing with the name of RED - how dumb can they be. I am a red head I certainly would not use "that handle" or whatever you call it. SO for the record my name is Cindy. For those who believe I have written under the name of RED have sense not to hire that attorney or if another investigator who I think used that name by the first initial of "R" they are nothing but "spoon stirrers" so get a life. I am a FANTASTIC investigator so bring it on.
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Does anybody know the amount settled for, a good media site like this one should know, the paper beat us to it on the story today, and what's up with this Doug guy.
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I have not been able to find out an amount yet, but I am digging. As far as Doug, I understand that he probably is not running again and that Darryl Gunter will be running for that seat.
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I was glad to see the paper finally covered this story...after it was over. But they did cover it and in detail too. What a mess. I think the Chamber should have fired those involved from the get-go. I remember the morning the newsletters were distributed. I passed by the Chamber and saw the Board gathering in a panic. Too bad they didn't address the problem, they only addressed how to best cover it up.
Who IS this Glen guy? lol
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For one thing, the Chamber can't fire elected officials, but I don't know if some Chamber employees and such were involved also.
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It's about time some more folks get the guts to kick against the "Idiots with money," in T.C.
There are those who know and then there are those who do not know, if you don't know then you should ask the question: Are there corrupt people who abuse others with their money and influence in TC. The answer is YES!!!
But if money is all you want, you can bet your public behavior will be swayed as well.
And eventually you will be swayed to look the other way while someone has their way with your wife and children.
What a pitiful state, sitting outside under the shade tree while the money man is in your house, how sweet.
If someone can lead you about with their fat purse then you are no less brilliant than the proverb of ridiculousness that suggests making a silk purse from a sows ear.
Only the sows ear is your nobility being bought and sold by the fat mans money.
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Does anyone know if that Doug guy did the things that was printed in the paper? Man what our city officials were up to. Oh boy!
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The suit was dropped against the employee. Doesn't make much sense to continue one and not the other if she was involved. Sounds like something happened at the Chamber building maybe?
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BM -you can investigate public officials, expose the corruption and then have them removed (fired) or have charges brought against them. If you find an honest auditor to assist, start with the hospital and trace it back to premier and the hotel. Finish with school dept, chamber or sheriff. Just follow the money like you are tracking down a terrorist cell.
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All this is just so typical for trailer county, the shame-ber of commerce and taylor county dufass authority. These folks are killing our little community. I would not give kudos to the newspaper, they circled the wagons around the chamber and protected all involved. It is criminal the level of maturity in our elected officials, if one drops out another mental defective will run. Honest folks do not want to dirty their shoes becoming the next political politician!
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Who is protecting the city of Perry's (honorable) mayor Emily Ketring and why? Is there a state law that protects the mentally challenged? I understand from her deposition she said she had a "Learning disorder". I also understand she is the one who made the chamber article dirty, assisting Dawn Taylor at the chamber computer. she appears to be getting off scott free. I heard they are both trying to throw each other under the bus.
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I keep feeling like I must be missing something with this whole affair, because I just don't see what the big deal is. Some local notables engaged in a joke. So what?
Yeah, it was immature. Yeah, it was accidentally made public. But in the end, it was still just a joke. Parody at the expense of a public figure, just like we see every time we turn on our TVs.
People on this board have said FAR worse things about public figures. Indeed, rather than just making jokes, many here have outright accused local leaders of being liars and cheats and intentionally doing wrong. Many of the comments I've seen here are far worse than the chamber members' jests, to my mind.
Again, though, I'm not on the inside of this thing. Maybe there's more to it than I know, and I'm missing something that makes it more noteworthy than it seems.
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When you set out to destory someone "It Is Not A Joke" I'm under the understanding there is more (a lot more to this story).
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I'd love to know the rest of the story. The only part I've heard was about the "newsletter," which was clearly a joke and not meant for public consumption.
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Very true. Speaking of parody, we expect parody from TMZ, SNL, late night television, editorial cartoonists, etc., but we should not expect and condone parody, defamation, intentional humiliation, etc. from our elected officials and chamber board members. It surprises me that some are just blowing this off as a simple mistake. It was a distasteful display of immaturity from people that we elected to run and unfortunately represent our community. We expect law enforcement to be held to a higher standard automatically and I feel the same applies to elected officials and community leaders. If they want to continue to be children, then they have absolutely no business sitting in a public office seat passing judgment on others. One thing is for sure, this lawsuit against Councilman Everett has and is putting in the light exactly what has been going on in politics in this county forever, bullying, intimidation and if needed, total destruction of an opponent of the norm.
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If the newsletter was joke, it wasn't defamation--by the very definition of the word. And if it was sent out accidentally, it wasn't intentional humiliation.
Distasteful and immature? Yes. Malicious? Not from what I've seen so far.
Again, though, I'm on the outside looking in. I'm open to the possibility that there's more to the story, but I'm not going to pass judgment without all of the facts.
As for the lawsuit against Everett, I don't know anything more than what I read in the paper. And to be honest, that didn't make much sense to me. Again, though, I'm not prepared to pass judgment without all of the facts.
Are you?
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Here is how I look at it. If it was accidental and it was just a harmless joke between adults, then why didn't the Chamber take it all the way to the jury trial and prove their innocence. When anyone chooses not to fight to prove allegations false, means they are guilty as charged to me. If I was accused of something I didn't do, you can best believe I would do whatever it took to prove I didn't do it. When a civil case is "settled" out of court, with a confidentiality agreement on top of that, then it equals a plea bargain in a criminal case. It means we can not disprove the allegations and choose to save face and settle. Basically we did it. Think about it, they didn't want to face a jury of their peers; that says multitudes. So from where I sit, it was malicious and defamatory and I believe if we knew the truth, the sending of the 'newsletter' was intentional and they assumed it would stay inside the Chamber member click but it didn't. It got to people that thought it very inappropriate and it went from there. So, am I prepared to have my opinion and pass judgment on those involved, you bet. Do I think the settlement was meant to protect more than just Dawn Taylor and the Chamber, absolutely, and the Taylor County public was the ones who lost here by not getting all the facts on those they have and will vote for.
As far as the Everett lawsuit, I bet most if not all charges are right on, but I will wait to 'pass judgment' pending outcome of the case. Knowing what I know of Mr. Everett, if he is innocent, he will take it to the end to prove it. We will just have to wait and see.
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I couldn't disagree more on the meaning of an out-of-court settlement.
The fact is, we don't know what it means. It could mean what you say, or it could mean that the defendants felt that settling was the quickest, least expensive way to put the matter behind them. Indeed, people sue all the time with the hope that they can make a quick buck by having the organization they're suing settle. And it can be cheaper for those organizations to do so than to participate in lengthy, expensive legal proceedings.
You mention that by agreeing to a sealed settlement, the Chamber could be protecting itself. But the other side of the coin is that by agreeing to a sealed settlement, Pam Feagle could be protecting herself.
If you were in her shoes, would you settle? If you passionately believed a great wrong had occurred, wouldn't you WANT it to go to court? Wouldn't you WANT the world to know all the details? After all, this is about justice, right? Not money? By agreeing to settle, has she not sent the message that money is more important than justice? That money is more important than exposing wrongdoers?
Now, I don't know Pam and I don't know her motives. I DO know, though, that settling out of court can look just as bad for her as it can for the Chamber. There are enough unknown variables here that none of us on the outside should read much into the fact that the suit was settled.
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It doesn't happen often, but we are going to probably disagree on this one. Considering this has been ongoing for around four years and the settlement happened hours before jury trial, the settlement had nothing to do with quick and least expensive. Justice in a civil defamation case is in the form either a settlement or judgment, both being monetary. It really has nothing to do with exposing wrongdoers, because in actuality that should have been the job of local media and we all know why that didn't happen. I still feel the purpose of the confidentiality agreement was to protect the Chamber and others. The defendants said we will pay you whatever you feel compensates your injuries as long as you will not talk about the case, because they did not want it to go to trial. Evidently Pam felt she was being compensated and said write the check. To answer your questions about going to court; if I was the defendant and didn't do what I was accused of, then I would definitely want it to go to court, unless I was guilty. If I was the plaintiff and was being offered what me and my attorney felt was fair compensation, then it wouldn't matter to me if it went to court or not. I was suing for damages and was getting it so end it. That is just me, but I still stand behind how I felt earlier.
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Here's my sticking point:
Let's say that Pam is interested in justice--in exposing people who have done something wrong--rather than money. Let's also say that she's so sure she's right, that she believes she's guaranteed a win if the suit makes it to court.
What's her motive for settling out of court?
If I were in her shoes, there's no way I'd settle. Go to court. Make the bums take the stand. Let the world know what they did.
Unless, that is, what I really wanted was money and I wasn't interested in the public finding out the details of what happened. Or if I wasn't so sure I'd win, or that the amount I'd win was less than what was being offered in the settlement.
Although in truth, if I were in her shoes and were truly embarrassed about the faux newsletter, I wouldn't have filed suit to begin with. Because in doing so, she has made WAY more people aware of what happened than ever would've otherwise known.
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First of all, none of us can say what we would do if we were in her shoes because we aren't. That's like someone saying, "I would NEVER have an affair, I would NEVER cheat my employer, I would NEVER..." because those are the exact things they might face AND fail. Bet all those who said I would never and got caught, probably thought they would NEVER get caught. So don't say, I would do this or that, because quite frankly my dear, no body really gives a damn. Get over yourself and what you would or wouldn't do. No one cares.
Seems we need to pray out those who are in office now. Taylor county is only as good as its leaders and we see who they are and the things they do.
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Sounds like you, too, have pronounced the accused guilty without a trial.
I sure wish I had access to the crystal ball you guys are using to gather evidence before passing judgment.
I don't know who's right and who's wrong here. But the thing is, neither does anyone else on this board unless they were personally involved or in some other way have access to information that isn't public.
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BM you are exactly correct. You have hit the nail on the head! The fact is some of these folks start these whisper campaigns to discredit their critics and create a fog about what really goes on. These folks are elected and appointed to be our leaders, they should all be sent home. The quality of those who are "serving" as our community leaders has sunk to a new low. I am all for getting new folks in these positions and maybe things will improve.
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I understand Doug Everett made up the BIG LIE about Pam Feagle and told alot of people, encluding his "friend" Emily Ketring. She (Ketring) then supposably collabrated with Dawn Taylor at the chamber to publish it in the news letter to cause Pam Feagle to lose the election. When will someone get copies of the deposition so we will know for sure.
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Taylor County Citizen: It sounds like you are a lawyer, this explains your warped sense of humor. I think Pam F eagle must had passionally believed a great wrong had indeed happened since she did file a lawsuit and remember, the paper said it was settled on the eve of the jury trial. If the chamber wanted to settle because it was the quickest and least expensive way, then why didn't they settle much sooner?
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Perhaps some new bit of information came to light that weakened her case and strengthened the Chamber's defense...
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In a small town like Perry, even if Pam didn't go to court, trust me "Everyone Would Know" also, the chamber had no defense, as I said, they settled with Pam, I'm sure she had no intentions of backing down.
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What information did that Glen guy bring to light to make the Chamber and Ms. Feagle settle on the eve of court. He seems to be carring alot of weight around here. I say we get him voted on the School board so he can get them straightened out with their financial mess. I say "VOTE GLEN".
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that was so last weeks joke, get with the times...
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Don’t know about Red or Glen but I do know all about Alligator Rd Ken and the Pinkerton’s have all been here and maybe here again. So what is it they know about you and you know who? Listening devices ah... wait until you see the catalog. This does not mean you need to know who’s doing who; you just need to know who’s doing you. That's TC
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I understand that the original mediation was unsuccessful and the parties were $5,000.00 apart, a small amount of money considering the great impact this case has had on the chamber, our embattled leaders and the community. The prior post indicating that both parties look bad is correct. The bikering that used to go on between Feagle and Ketring were childish at best, and if you were attending a city council meeting during that time you could see other parties in the council meeting room who were interested in discrediting Feagle.
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I am surprised at the BM's response here. The fact is that none of us know all the details in this case. I have been involved in a similar situation out of Taylor County and if my guess is right the Chamber carries insurance to cover events like this. Most organizations that rely on volunteers do open themselves up to this. Let's assume they turned this case over to their insurance carrier. I may be wrong but at that time I believe the Chamber is out of the settlement negotiations. The insurance company takes over, hires a attorney and mediates all settlement agreements. If that is the case the Chamber would have no say so if this went to trial. The world is run by attorney's and insurance companies. Just a thought before the crucifixion begins.
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Is the chamber’s insurance a high cost plan( really good plan) or the equivalent of PPI auto (the smallest amount of coverage required by law) like the hospital mal-practice plan? Sure would explain why no attorney’s want to take up the causes of Taylor County people, must be the money b/c we all know what’s really going on and on.
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In light of all the debate over this case, the BM should open up discussion on all the other settlements in TC caused by incompetent organizations. Bet it is a long dirty list connected to all the same names.
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Amen to that!
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Well given the lack of leadership and educated staff, the chamber is not doing anything meaningful for business and industry. The chamber has essentially become an event planner organization and does a good job at that function.
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Well "Red" is the hot investigator that was visiting a lot of people involved b/c she visited me. I heard she had enough bs with a lot of mistruths..sounds like Doug E. needs to hire her. One of my co-workers hired her and she kicked axx recently. But Glen must be one of Pam's witnesses under an "assumed name" that put the nail in the coffin or maybe "stretched the truth or not" Doug, Emily Dawn and the others better get the stree "Red head" on their side. She quit Pam's attorney before the case was settled hummmm
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I like the way this sounds! The plot thickens! Watch the potentates, jr. potentates and charlatans squirm. This blog continues to pay everyone a great turn at laughing at these "big fish" in the small polluted lake known as trailer county. Thanks wal-mart, put all of these small minded potentates out of business, we all need a smilely face sticker on our shirts! LOL!!!!!
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I would like to hire this "Red" and "Glen" how can they be reached if you met with them didn't they give a number ??
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Hey I found her card when she came to see me. I not putting her name on this blog but her number is 850 694 3477 email is lawdawg1207@aol.com
Good luck PS Still dont know who Glen is.Maybe the redhead investigator will?
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What happened about opening up the other settlememts for discussion?
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Are you wanting a general topic for people to discuss multiple settlements? I normally don't do that because the topic will become confusing because the discussion is so random. I have no problem doing that if you can tell me how it will remain relevant. If you know of multiple settlements and its impact on Taylor County, we can also tackle them one at a time. Let me know.
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Hey I just talked to the Investigator - Boy if I was Doug I would hire her. She did not quit Pam she quit the xxx attorney Pam had. She did not say much but I think the attorney is crooked... While I asked her some questions she worked a case for a friend of my wife's and she kicked axx from what my wife's friend said. This girl should write a book. Instead of Doug hiring her maybe we should start a collection and have her investigate the whole dad gum Chamber people.
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"would believe I has been writing"
should be
"I have been writing"
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This all has had it's 15 minutes of fame. Let it go. We got a mud-bog to blog about! LOL!
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Hey English Teacher - or should I say "B" in the male or female english language = I only have 4 degrees but was in a hurry - Who Cares is write...but remember I know who you also.. AND YOU AREN' ALL THAT SO GET OVER YOURSELF as maybe since I is country get over yo self... maybe you need something else in your life - like a life or as the Famous Charlie Brown would say "Blah, blah blah blah now I will not be reading your bxxxx news wipe again.
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I agree "who cares", I wish the Chamber would get back to assisting businesses and help retain and create new jobs. All the event planning in the world does not help in overcoming the job losses we have had in this community. You have to wonder when things will get back to the Chamber members actually benefiting from the efforts of the Chmaber. How much has been spent and all the resources expended are gone forever, resources expended on this childish behavior.
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Well, now I'm confused... Feagle's suit against the Chamber claimed that comments in the now-infamous newsletter were false. Now Everett's filing suit against the Chamber, and this claim states that the comments are *true*.
Huh?
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A“love triangle” turns into a hexagon , only in Taylor County, Too funny.
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Lovely blog
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To heck with the Chamber's Keep Taylor County Beautiful, the Chamber should start a new initiative, Keeping it classy trailer county! And these are our community leaders! LOL!!!
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A“love triangle” turns into a hexagon , only in Taylor County, Too funny.
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