Christ Fellowship Palm Beach Gardens

More losses at the South Florida Water Management District

It was a heartbreaking weekend for the South Florida Water Management District with news of the deaths of two co-workers.

Former Inspector General John W. Williams, 62, of Wellington, died Sunday morning. Williams recently retired  from the district after serving as the Inspector General since 2004. Prior to this position Williams served as the St. Johns River Water Management District Deputy General Counsel. Williams was a graduate of Florida A&M University and earned his law degree at the University of Florida. Services will be held at Christ Fellowship, 5343 North Lake Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 12.

Williams made news recently for his role in hiring the boyfriend of former executive director Carol Wehle for a $120,000-a-year-job as the district’s engineering auditor. Wehle retired shortly after details of the district’s hiring of Bob Howard were made public. In a 33-page report, state investigators found no evidence that Williams acted improperly when he hired Bob Howard, Wehle’s boyfriend..

Judy Boone, 53, of Wellington, died on Saturday in a diving accident just southeast of Key Largo. Boone was a business management specialist at the district. According to news reports, Boone was in the Keys to celebrate the birthday of a friend. The group was starting their second dive of the day at Crocker’s Reef, about 2 miles off Plantation Key. When one of the divers ran out of air, Boone stayed behind to help him.

However, the man began sinking and was unable to drop his diving weights that were integrated into his gear. The boat’s captain called the Coast Guard after he dove to the bottom with tanks but could not find the divers. Searchers found the bodies on Sunday morning. Arrangements are pending.

Boone began working at the District in 1987 and was a Business Management Specialist with a focus on HR matters. She participated on the Employee Committee and her efforts over the last six years during the annual Race for the Cure events,  the agency raised more than $100,000 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

The deaths came at a particularly difficult time for the agency, which is scheduled to begin layoffs this week. Already,123 workers took a buy-out in June. As many as 100 workers are expected to lose their jobs when layoffs begin this week.

Happy 235th America!! Help us blow out the candles on July 3rd at ...

Who: The South Florida 9.12 Project, and all other freedom-loving Americans within the sound of my voice (or at least within view of my typing)

What: Fellowship breakfast and patriotic Sunday services

When: July 3rd, 2011 at 10am

Where: The Original Pancake House, 4364 Northlake Blvd, in Palm Beach Gardens (just west of I-95)

Why: If you have to ask that, click here  and be gone with you!

How: Take I-95 to Northlake Boulevard west, about 3/4 mile on the south side of the street.  One if by land, two if by sea.

If you missed it last year, here’s your chance to be a part of an incredibly moving patriotic service celebrating our country’s birth, as delivered by our own local member of the Black Robe Brigade, Pastor Tom Mullins.

A special request from the organizers this year; bring children — they don’t even have to be yours!!! Bring the neighbor’s kids if you can, or your daughter’s friend from soccer!  Let them hear our history from an unfiltered source, let them hear the music we sing in the joy of our freedom, and let them see YOUR love for our country.  Kids may not do what you say, but they see what you do.  Charles Barkley may not be a role model, but you can be!!   The service we’ll attend starts at 12:12pm — just a short drive west from the Pancake House. 

So we can all sit together at both the Pancake House AND the church, please RSVP below with how many folks you will bring.  Look forward to seeing you there.

(Ed. Note – see comments below – David Barton of Wall Builders will not be at the service as previously listed)

Yes Kim, you were right. I don’t know if the church’s web-site worded it incorrectly when they first posted it, or if Barton’s schedule changed, but as of yesterday morning, he is NOT going to be there for the July 3rd service. Disappointing, but hopefully not so much that people skip the service on the 3rd — it’s still a moving experience, and . . . . who knows what guests might pop up. Last year, then candidate for Congress Lt. Colonel Allen West was there. See you there.

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