Northwest Florida Daily News (Fort Walton Beach, FL) articles from June 2012

Northwest Florida Daily News (Fort Walton Beach, FL) archives from June 2012

Interest in TDC Job Remains High
June 12, 2012... Byline: Kari C. Barlow June 12--Okaloosa County's search for a new Tourist Development Council head continues to draw dozens of resumes from across the country. As of Monday, the county had received 174 applications for the TDC's...

Area Golf Courses Up for Sale
June 12, 2012... Byline: Dusty Ricketts June 12--SHALIMAR -- The owner of four golf courses in Northwest Florida has put the properties up for sale and two of them are under contract to be purchased. Meadowbrook Golf, which owns eight golf courses in...

Rains Dampen Area's Troubling Wildfire
June 12, 2012... Byline: Angel McCurdy June 12--EGLIN AFB -- Officials with Eglin's Wild Land Management Section said the wildfire that erupted in late May has been adequately put to sleep. "The rain did not necessarily kill it, at least not yet," said...

School Board Requests Testing Model Change
June 12, 2012... Byline: Katie Tammen June 12--FORT WALTON BEACH -- The Okaloosa County School Board has joined many other groups across the state and nation that are condemning the current standardized testing model for the undue pressure it places on...

Prosthetic Leg Lost at Sea Returned
June 12, 2012... Byline: Wendy Victora June 12--VALPARAISO -- A former University of Kentucky running back and his prosthetic leg were reunited Monday, after he stopped by the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office to retrieve it. Fred Robinson, who moved to...

BRIEF: Driver "Nodded Off," Took out Telephone Pole
June 12, 2012... Byline: Wendy Victora June 12--A driver who sheared off a telephone pole in near Buffalo's Reef on Eglin Parkway told rescue workers that he "nodded off" before leaving the roadway. Noah David Cantrell, a 19-year-old from Crestview,...

BRIEF: Country Star Jason Aldean Cited for Swimming under Double Reds
June 12, 2012... Byline: Kari C. Barlow June 12--GRAYTON BEACH -- Country music star Jason Aldean isn't happy with the Walton County Sheriff's Office. The "Big Green Tractor" singer was handed a $100 non-criminal citation Monday for swimming in the Gulf...

Eglin Releases New App
June 11, 2012... Byline: Justin Heinze June 11--EGLIN AFB -- The base has launched a new app for streamlining scheduling and communication. "My Military Communities" offers instant updates from all official base organization Facebook pages by consolidating...

Two Rescued While Caught in Rip Tide off Navarre Beach
June 11, 2012... Byline: Angel McCurdy June 11--NAVARRE -- Two swimmers were rescued Saturday evening after getting caught in a rip current off Navarre Beach. First responders were called to 8147 Gulf Boulevard around 7 p.m. after two swimmers were spotted...

Region Largely Spared from More Flood Damage
June 11, 2012... Byline: Lauren Sage Reinlie June 11--A line of heavy rainstorms moved across the Florida panhandle Sunday, dumping rain on an already saturated Pensacola and Gulf Breeze, but largely sparing the region from additional flood damage. ...

Federal Investigation Is Latest Question in Walton Lawsuits
June 11, 2012... Byline: Tom McLaughlin June 11--Attorneys for Walton County activist Suzanne Harris are trying to prevent their client from having to testify about discussions they say she's had with federal agents. To do so, they've stated in a court...

Okaloosa to Revisit Proposed Hatchery, Park
June 11, 2012... Byline: Kari C. Barlow June 11--OKALOOSA ISLAND -- County Commissioners are nearing a decision on whether to allow a fish hatchery and an adventure park to be built on the old Island Golf Center property. AquaGreen, a nonprofit in Destin,...

One Couple's Garden of Eden
June 11, 2012... Byline: Wendy Victora June 11--FORT WALTON BEACH -- For nearly 50 years, Fred and Phyl Owens have lived in the same house with its fenced backyard on a quiet shaded street. They still enjoy every bit of it, especially the backyard, where...

BRIEF: Heavy Rainfall Contaminates Inland Waterways
June 11, 2012... Byline: Justin Heinze June 11--The Santa Rosa County Healthy Department has issued an advisory against water-related activiteis in all areas except the Gulf of Mexico. Heavy rainfall during the past several days has washed contaminants...

BRIEF: Curly-Haired Teenager Sought in Shalimar Boxcutter Battery
June 11, 2012... Byline: Justin Heinze June 11--SHALIMAR -- A white male between the ages of thirteen and nineteen, described as being 5'10 with ear-length curly hair, is being sought after slicing a man's arms with a boxcutter during an attempted car...

BRIEF: US-98 Accident Causes over $20K in Damages
June 11, 2012... Byline: Justin Heinze June 11--NAVARRE -- A collision on US-98 at an intersection with two flashing lights caused over $20,000 in damages at around 6:30 Monday morning. A Jeep Cherokee had stopped at a flashing red light near Orion Parker...

25 Rescued So Far; Double-Red Flags Forbid Swimming
June 11, 2012... Byline: Angel McCurdy June 11--NAVARRE -- Twenty-five people have been rescued in the waters of Walton County on Monday as of the late afternoon, according to South Walton Fire Department Beach Safety Director Gary Wise. Two swimmers were...

Local Dancers Return as World Champions
June 11, 2012... Byline: Angel McCurdy June 11--FORT WALTON BEACH -- Justin Guilmette easily lifts Kimalee Piedad into the air and gingerly moves her across the wooden dance floor in time to the music. For nearly seven months, Piedad and Guilmette...

BRIEF: Crestview Hosting National Guard Sendoff This Saturday
June 11, 2012... Byline: Justin Heinze June 11--CRESTVIEW -- A community sendoff is planned for the Crestview National Guard unit this Saturday June 16, at 7 p.m. Organizers hope to line Highway 90 all the way to the armory on Highway 85 with flags, signs,...

Property Popular with Parachutists, but for How Long?
June 10, 2012... Byline: Justin Heinze June 10--PAXTON -- Muscular arm outstretched toward his farm, Jim Nipper tells of the week in April when dozens of Navy EOD jumpers floated to the ground just behind his house. Clear of trees and air traffic, the...

BRIEF: Cause of House Fire under Investigation
June 10, 2012... June 10--BLUEWATER BAY -- A house on Troon Drive suffered heavy damage in a fire Saturday afternoon. Firefighters were called to the blaze near the intersection of Bluewater Boulevard about 4:15 p.m., said North Bay Fire Division Chief Butch...

Storms Drench Panhandle
June 10, 2012... Byline: Lauren Sage Reinlie June 10--Rainstorms pounded the Florida Panhandle Saturday afternoon. Pensacola and Gulf Breeze were the hardest hit, with flooding, downed traffic lights, power outages, swamped cars and at least one report of a...

Habitat for Humanity Braves Rain for Fundraiser
June 10, 2012... Byline: Lauren Sage Reinlie June 10--FORT WALTON BEACH -- In between bouts of rain early Saturday afternoon, people lined up at Central Park at Uptown Station for heaping plates of boiled shrimp, sausage, potatoes and yellow corn. As a...

Rain Continues to Dump on Panhandle; Lightning Causes Fires
June 10, 2012... Byline: Lauren Sage Reinlie June 10--A line of heavy storms is moving across the Florida panhandle, dumping rain on an an already saturated Pensacola and Gulf Breeze and taking down trees and power lines as it moves east. Southern Santa Rosa...

BRIEF: Brooks Street Parking Lot to Get Improvements
June 10, 2012... Byline: Kari C. Barlow June 10--FORT WALTON BEACH -- The Brooks Street parking lot behind the Northwest Florida Ballet and Coasters will be closed for the next three months while the city makes improvements to the area. Alternative parking...

End-of-Course Exams Spark Complaints
June 9, 2012... Byline: Katie Tammen June 09--Standardized testing continues to be a point of contention in the Okaloosa County School District. Since the end of May, teachers, students, parents and district officials have been at odds over the content of...

Emergency Exercise Had Gunmen Loose in School
June 9, 2012... Byline: Angel McCurdy June 09--NICEVILLE -- The terrified scream of a young girl sounded through Niceville High School's PA system. Then the muffled sound of yelling and a gun being fired incited more screams. The two gunmen began to make...

Election Races Become Official
June 9, 2012... Byline: Tom McLaughlin June 09--Okaloosa County Property Appraiser Pete Smith may officially have become a fixture Friday. When no one stepped up to oppose his re-election, Smith stood as the lone qualifier and will begin serving his sixth...

13-Year-Old Girl Drowns at Miramar Beach
June 9, 2012... Byline: Angel McCurdy June 09--SANDESTIN -- A 13-year-old girl died Thursday evening after she was pulled from the Gulf of Mexico. The Walton County sheriff's deputy who tried to rescue her also was taken to the hospital for treatment. ...

Okaloosa Considers Legal Action against Vision Airlines
June 9, 2012... Byline: Dusty Ricketts June 09--Okaloosa County is considering legal action to collect roughly $144,000 in passenger facilities charges owed Northwest Florida Regional Airport. "They agreed they would send us payments of $25,000 per week,...

Airport Continues to Seek Carriers
June 9, 2012... Byline: Dusty Ricketts June 09--Northwest Florida Regional Airport is trying to attract new airlines. Mike Stenson, the airport's deputy director, returned Thursday after attending the three-day JumpStart 2012 conference in Sacramento,...

Learning with Legos at Bricks 4 Kidz
June 9, 2012... Byline: Dusty Ricketts June 09--NICEVILLE -- One of the more effective ways to teach has always been to make the lessons fun and engaging. The new location of Bricks 4 Kidz, located across the street from Niceville High School on John...

Northwest Florida Daily News, Fort Walton Beach, Wendy Victora Column
June 9, 2012... Byline: Wendy Victora June 09--How easy it is to criticize, to assume that the victim was at fault, or the victim's parents, or someone. To find someone to blame is less terrifying than to accept that children die or are seriously injured...

Local Grad Wins Pulitzer Prize for Tornado Coverage
June 9, 2012... Byline: Katie Tammen June 09--A Fort Walton Beach High School graduate received a Pulitzer Prize with his co-workers this year for breaking news reporting. Jamon Smith and the staff at The Tuscaloosa News in Alabama received the highest...

BRIEF: Motorcyclist Hospitalized after Early Morning Wreck on U.S. 98
June 9, 2012... Byline: Lauren Sage Reinlie June 09--NAVARRE -- A motorcyclist was flown to the hospital after a wreck early Saturday on U.S. Highway 98. The 26-year-old man from Hurlburt Field was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola with...

Eglin to keep two-star general.
June 8, 2012... Byline: Tom McLaughlin June 08--EGLIN AFB -- The Air Armament Center will not lose its two-star general after all. Air Force officials announced Thursday that Maj. Gen. Kenneth Merchant will remain at Eglin Air Force Base as its Program...

Special Forces Group to add 400 soldiers.
June 8, 2012... Byline: Justin Heinze June 08--EGLIN AFB -- The Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) will stand up a fourth combat battalion this fall, which will bring the total number of soldiers at the cantonment to 2,200. Lt. Col. Martin Schmidt...

Two shop owners charged with selling synthetic drugs.
June 8, 2012... Byline: Lauren Sage Reinlie June 08--MILTON -- Two smoke shop owners have been arrested and charged with selling illegal synthetic drugs. Michael D. Johnson, 37, and Rachael Hartsell, 31, were arrested Wednesday after undercover officers...

Veterans to help with 50th Habitat for Humanity house.
June 8, 2012... Byline: Justin Heinze June 08--Habitat for Humanity has announced plans to build its 50th house in Okaloosa County, which they have dubbed "Patriot Place" in honor of local veterans and military service members. Nitsi Bennett, president and...

BRIEF: Man charged in rape and battery.
June 8, 2012... Byline: Lauren Sage Reinlie June 08--DEFUNIAKSPRINGS -- A 52-year-old man has been arrested and charged in the rape and battery of a woman on Tuesday. Johnny Earl Branch of DeFuniak Springs is charged with attempting to strangle the woman...

BRIEF: Man charged in armed robbery of juvenile.
June 8, 2012... Byline: Lauren Sage Reinlie June 08--MIRAMAR BEACH -- A 31-year-old man was arrested Wednesday and charged in the armed robbery of a juvenile at a condominium complex earlier this year. Derral Lynn Demps of Fort Walton Beach pointed a gun...

Okaloosa School Board to consider opposing FCAT model.
June 8, 2012... Byline: Katie Tammen June 08--FORT WALTON BEACH -- The Okaloosa County School Board is preparing to take a stand on high-stakes testing. The board will vote next week whether to support a resolution asking state officials to rethink...

Qualifying nears end for local elections.
June 8, 2012... June 08--Candidates wanting to run for office in this year's elections in Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties have until noon Friday to qualify for the ballot. The primary election is Aug. 14. The general election is Nov. 6. Here is...

BRIEF: 13-year-old drowns at Miramar Beach.
June 8, 2012... Byline: Angel McCurdy June 08--MIRAMAR BEACH --A 13-year-old drowned Thursday evening while swimming in the gulf. First responders were called around 7 p.m. when three distressed swimmers were spotted, according to a Walton County...

BRIEF: Injured driver found hours after crash.
June 8, 2012... Byline: Wendy Victora June 08--FORT WALTON BEACH -- A 21-year-old Kissimmee, Florida man whose car overturned in a neighborhood wasn't found until four hours after the crash. Jeffrey Rios was seriously injured in the crash, which was...

BRIEF: Ten-year-old killed in I-10 wreck.
June 8, 2012... Byline: Angel McCurdy June 08--PACE -- A 10-year-old boy was killed Thursday after the vehicle he was traveling in overturned on Interstate 10. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 28-year-old Niela V. Johnson was traveling westbound...

Wildlife refuge takes in young red fox.
June 8, 2012... Byline: Dusty Ricketts June 08--OKALOOSA ISLAND -- The Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge has taken in a young red fox and needs the community's help to care for the animal. The estimated 9-month old red fox was recently taken to the refuge...

Prosthetic Leg Found in Bay Claimed by Owner
June 8, 2012... Byline: Wendy Victora June 08--VALPARAISO -- A prosthetic leg found by a shrimp boat early Thursday morning has been claimed. Matt Willingham of Willingham Seafood said he got a call after the story appeared on the Northwest Florida Daily...

Couple celebrate 70th wedding annivesary.
June 7, 2012... Byline: Angel McCurdy June 07--NICEVILLE -- When Bernie and Shirley Mandel met, they were just two children looking for a playmate after school. Now, they are celebrating 70 years of marriage Wednesday. "You know, it's amazing," Shirley...

BRIEF: Man uses electronic device to steal gas.
June 7, 2012... Byline: Lauren Sage Reinlie June 07--MILTON -- A 38-year-old man was caught using an electronic device to steal gasoline on Tuesday, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office. Elian Laguna, who lives in Hialeah, attached the...

BRIEF: Driver says foot slipped, caused him to crash into car injuring woman, child.
June 7, 2012... Byline: Lauren Sage Reinlie June 07--GULF BREEZE -- A 50-year-old man was charged with careless driving after he crashed into the rear of a car that was stopped at a red light on U.S. Highway 98 Wednesday morning, injuring a woman and a...

BRIEF: Two charged with giving drugs to children.
June 7, 2012... Byline: Lauren Sage Reinlie June 07--Two 24-year-olds from DeFuniak Springs were arrested Tuesday and charged with child abuse after the Walton County Sheriffs' Office said they provided drugs to two children who had to be hospitalized after...

Okaloosa considers closing new TDC welcome center.
June 7, 2012... Byline: Kari C. Barlow June 07--Legendary Inc. CEO Peter Bos has offered to let the county out of its five-year, $228,000 lease for the Tourist Development Council's new welcome center in Destin. Okaloosa County commissioners are...

Police, courts to try to close loophole after stabbing death.
June 7, 2012... Byline: Tom McLaughlin June 07--CRESTVIEW -- Since the fatal stabbing of Alissa Couch, the Police Department has taken two major steps to improve communication between its officers and the people at pre-trial services. The department has...

Elections Commission declines to investigate Wyrosdick.
June 7, 2012... Byline: Katie Tammen June 07--The Florida Elections Commission will not investigate Santa Rosa County Superintendent of Schools Tim Wyrosdick for allegedly using school district employees and equipment for his re-election campaign. The...

Candidate slate grows for local elections.
June 7, 2012... June 07--Candidates continued to file their papers on the third day of qualifying Wednesday to run for federal, state and local offices in this year's elections in Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties. The primary election is Aug. 14....

Airport police force up and running.
June 7, 2012... Byline: Kari C. Barlow June 07--VALPARAISO -- Okaloosa County's new airport police force has had a quiet first month on the job, Chief Melvin Tennyson said Wednesday. "It's steady. It's busy," Tennyson said. "We handle several different...

'Dixie Swim Club' brings lively comedy to FWB stage.
June 7, 2012... Byline: Brenda Shoffner June 07--Five young Southern women meet at a college in North Carolina. They're all on the school's swim team. They become more than just friends; they become friends for life. And when they go their separate...

BRIEF: Firefighters respond after man reports 'red glow' from sheds.
June 7, 2012... Byline: Angel McCurdy June 07--DEFUNIAK SPRINGS -- First responders were called to a structure fire early Thursday morning. According to former Liberty Volunteer Fire Chief Roger Roy, firefighters were called to 926 King Lake Blvd. at...

'In rented clothing we were wed': Couple celebrates 70 years.
June 7, 2012... Byline: Angel McCurdy June 07--NICEVILLE -- When Bernie and Shirley Mandel met, they were just two children looking for a playmate after school. Now, they are celebrating 70 years of marriage Wednesday. "You know, it's amazing," Shirley...

BRIEF: Eglin to keep two-star general.
June 7, 2012... June 07--The Air Armament Center at Eglin Air Force Base will not be losing its two-star general after all. The Air Force has reversed course and decided not to replace the Air Armament Center's two-star general with a one-star, according to...

BRIEF: School bus carrying 21 students bumps motorcycle off the road.
June 7, 2012... Byline: Tom McLaughlin June 07--A school bus driver apparently swerved into the left hand lane on U.S. Highway 98 near Navarre this morning and knocked the driver of a motorcycle off his bike. There were 21 West Navarre Primary school...

Destin Pass closed to traffic due to rough conditions.
June 7, 2012... Byline: Lauren Sage Reinlie June 07--DESTIN -- The U.S. Coast Guard has closed the Destin Pass to all traffic due to rough conditions in the water. They made the call after spending all day Thursday responding to several boaters in...

BRIEF: Shrimp boat pulls in prosthetic limb, looking for owner.
June 7, 2012... Byline: Wendy Victora June 07--VALPARAISO -- A local shrimp boat captain pulling up his nets early Thursday morning had a startling catch. First he saw a foot and thought it was a body. Then he realized that the foot was part of a...

Simon Property Group buys half interest in Silver Sands.
June 6, 2012... Byline: Dusty Ricketts June 06--MIRAMAR BEACH -- The Simon Property Group has finalized a deal to purchase a 50 percent interest in Silver Sands Factory Stores. Silver Sands was started about 20 years ago by developer the Howard Group,...

BRIEF: Strong winds cause car towing trailer to flip.
June 6, 2012... Byline: Lauren Sage Reinlie June 06--NAVARRE -- A strong gust of wind during a bought of bad weather that rolled along the coast Tuesday afternoon caused a driver to lose control and overturn his car on U.S. Highway 98. The man and his...

Local schools lead in math, science on FCAT.
June 6, 2012... Byline: Katie Tammen June 06--Local students are among tops in the state in math and science, according to FCAT scores released Tuesday by the Florida Department of Education. Okaloosa County was ranked at or near the top in fifth- and...

BRIEF: Police seek man wanted in home invasion robbery.
June 6, 2012... June 06--DEFUNIAK SPRINGS -- Police are looking for a 47-year-old man wanted in connection with a home invasion robbery and battery that happened early Monday morning. Willie Clyde Bryant had dated the victim in the past, according to a news...

BRIEF: Rescuers search for missing swimmer.
June 6, 2012... Byline: Lauren Sage Reinlie June 06--SEASIDE -- Rescue workers are searching for a swimmer who went missing early Tuesday evening in the Gulf of Mexico. Three young men went out for a swim , but only two returned to shore near Seaside...

Commissioners vote to sell TDC yacht, RV.
June 6, 2012... Byline: Kari C. Barlow June 06--State officials have begun an operational audit of the Okaloosa County Commission and the Tourist Development Council. A team from the state Auditor General's Office began its field work May 30, meeting...

Walton OK's restaurant to abut Avalon Dunes condos.
June 6, 2012... Byline: Lauren Sage Reinlie June 06--SANTA ROSA BEACH -- Miramar Beach could soon see a new beachfront restaurant popping up along Scenic Gulf Drive. At their fifth meeting on the issue, Walton County Commissioners voted 3-2 Tuesday night...

Qualifying continues for local elections.
June 6, 2012... June 06--From staff reports More candidates came forward on the second day of qualifying Tuesday to run for federal, state and local offices in this year's elections in Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties. The primary election is...

LeMieux tells Niceville crowd he embraces tea party.
June 6, 2012... Byline: Tom McLaughlin June 06--NICEVILLE -- The tea party is alive and well locally, and its members came out in droves Tuesday to hear U.S. Senate candidate George LeMieux. At an event hosted by Republican state Rep. Matt Gaetz of Fort...

Clergy members step up to help PTSD patients.
June 6, 2012... Byline: Justin Heinze June 06--FORT WALTON BEACH -- A few dozen ministers assembled in the First Presbyterian Church on Tuesday for a tutorial from chaplains and mental health experts on recognizing and addressing post- traumatic stress...

Northwest Florida Daily News, Fort Walton Beach, Linda Murchison column.(Column)
June 6, 2012... Byline: Linda Murchison June 06--If you only think in terms of iceberg when you think of lettuce, think again. There are seven main cultivar groups of lettuce with many varieties within each. The most common of these groups are leaf;...

BRIEF: Authorities ID missing swimmer as 18-year-old Tennessee man.
June 6, 2012... Byline: Wendy Victora June 06--SOUTH WALTON -- A swimmer missing since 5:30 Tuesday evening has been identified as 18-year-old Yafet A. Yaseph, who was visiting with friends from Tennessee. He entered the Gulf of Mexico in the Seaside...

BRIEF: Child suffers dog bite at Crab Island, flown to hospital.
June 6, 2012... Byline: Wendy Victora June 06--DESTIN -- A 7-year-old boy bitten in the face Sunday by his uncle's dog was flown to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. The bites appeared to be "very serious and very deep," according to an Okaloosa County...

BRIEF: Body of missing swimmer found on shore.
June 6, 2012... Byline: Lauren Sage Reinlie June 06--SOUTH WALTON -- The body of a missing swimmer washed ashore Wednesday afternoon. 18-year-old Yafet A. Yaseph, who was visiting with friends from Tennessee, went missing about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday after...

Second teen arrested in armed robbery.
June 6, 2012... Byline: Lauren Sage Reinlie June 06--SANTA ROSA BEACH -- Deputies have arrested a second suspect in an armed robbery of a home on L Street in April. The robbery may be connected to another armed robbery that occurred several days later,...

Loggerhead turtle nest vandalized.
June 5, 2012... Byline: Tom McLaughlin June 05--NAVARRE BEACH -- The lives of baby sea turtles are excruciatingly important to people like Cathy Holmes. That's why Holmes, who walks the sand before sunrise each morning as a member of the Navarre Beach...

BRIEF: 14 year old driver hits broken down car being pushed in roadway.
June 5, 2012... Byline: Justin Heinze June 05--GULF BREEZE -- A driver and his friends were pushing a car in the road that had presumably broken down late Friday night when it was struck by a vehicle coming the opposite direction. The driver of the...

Scott brings workforce message to DeFuniak.
June 5, 2012... Byline: Dusty Ricketts June 05--DEFUNIAK SPRINGS -- With the state's debt being paid down and unemployment rate dropping, Gov. Rick Scott said Florida is moving in the right direction. However, he said, there is more work to do. On...

BRIEF: Charges pending against deputy after three-vehicle wreck.
June 5, 2012... Byline: Angel McCurdy June 05--PENSACOLA -- A 42-year-old deputy with the Escambia County Sheriff's Office was driving westbound on State Road 10-A when he allegedly hit another vehicle. According to the Florida Highway Patrol report,...

F-35 pilots' equipment and training match the jets' technology.
June 5, 2012... Byline: Justin Heinze June 05--EGLIN AFB -- At the 33rd Fighter Wing's Pilot Fit Facility, Navy Cmdr. David Dorn stared ahead as a circular metal scanner was lowered over his face, droning ominously. "Not gonna squish me, is it?" he...