Media Page 2

Local Community Teams Up for Dozier Property

 Posted: Aug 05, 2011 8:31 PM EDT Updated: Aug 05, 2011 8:31 PM

By Alyssa Hyman - email
 
The closure of the Dozier School for Boys marked the end of an institution that has been around for over one hundred years. The school has been gone for a month now, and there are questions about the future of this site.
 
"The school board the county and the city, we decided with the help of Jackson County Development Center. Lets approach the State of Florida about the possibility of transferring all that to the city, the county and the school board," says City Manager Jim Dean.
 
They all met with legislators including representative Marti Coley to talk about getting the 1300 acres of state property transferred to the local community
 "We all have one common goal is that the property does not sit idle. It would become an eye sore for the community. It definitely would not help the community at all," says Representative Coley.
 
The county, the city and the school board are teaming up and thinking about the long-term benefits for this area.
 
"We're talking about ten years from now. What does that need to look like when you're getting off that interstate. To come into this community. What needs to be there. What can we bring there to make this a better place to live and a better place to do business," says Dean.
 
They are in the very early stages of the process. Representative Coley says they need more specific plans, but that she supports their overall goal.
 
"I do support that. First of all I want to see the property utilized to the best advantage of the community. It's a beautiful property. We want to see it used in a way that the community would see a great economic benefit," says Coley.
 
To transfer the property, it would have to be approved by the governor and the cabinet. Representative Coley says that any requests for items like vehicles or bleachers from the Dozier School, will be considered for state agencies first.

A look at the credentials and work dates of physicians who have prescribed medications to juveniles at DJJ facilities:
Continued from "Dosed in juvie jail: Troubled doctors hired to treat kids in state custody"

ByMichael LaForgia
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Posted: 2:06 p.m. Sunday, June 19, 2011( 
Dr. Gold Smith Dorval

Licensed: April 24, 1989

Medical school: Universite D’Etat D’Haiti

Based: Pembroke Pines

Past troubles: Pleaded no contest to felony theft in 2004

Worked for DJJ: August-December 2007

Dr. Charles Dack

Licensed: June 13, 1980

Medical school: New York University

Based: Lakeland

Past troubles: Disciplined for overprescribing medication to a woman until she overdosed and died in 2002
 
Worked for DJJ: September 2008 to April 2011

Dr. Samuel McClure

Licensed: Oct. 11, 1979

Medical school: University of Florida

Based: Orlando

Past troubles: Sued for medical malpractice in the death of an 11-year-old boy who overdosed on medications
 
Worked for DJJ: January 2006 to June 2009

Dr. Sohail Punjwani

Licensed: Oct. 20, 1988

Medical school: University of Karachi’s Dow Medical College, Pakistan

Based: Lauderhill

Past troubles: Cited by FDA for medication mistakes during a clinical trial on children; prescribed mind-altering drugs to Gabriel Myers, a 7-year-old who hanged himself in 2009
 
Worked for DJJ: December 2007 to June 2008

ABOUT THIS STORY

Last month, Palm Beach Post investigative reporter Michael LaForgia reported that Florida has supplied children in state juvenile jails with heavy doses of powerful antipsychotic medications and that the pills can cause suicidal thoughts and other dangerous side effects. Michael’s investigation discovered that in state-run jails and residential programs, antipsychotics were among the top drugs bought for kids — and they routinely were doled out for reasons that never were approved by federal regulators.
 
ABOUT THE REPORTER

Michael LaForgia has reported on Florida’s pill mill crisis, spurring arrests and reforms at the state and local levels, and exposed loopholes in Florida law that put children at risk in summer camps. He joined The Post in 2006

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MANY OTHER STORIES ON THIS TOPIC:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/more-on-juvie-drugs-1495593.html

Wonderful Letter from Marti and Buddy Somnitz to Ben Montgomery of the St. Pete Times... (Reprinted with Permission) - Continued from HOME page..

Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2011 12:57 PM

Subject: Claude Kirk death....from Martha & Buddy Somnitz

Ben,

Read about Kirk's death this morning....it's sad, but he did have a long and colorful life.

I was hoping to see someone point out in the news stories, that even with all of the controversy that surrounded him and his term as governor, he did succeed with one very important accomplishment. Along with his staff, including Mr. Keller, he closed the "white house" at Marianna School For Boys, and helped bring an end to the State approved beatings of young boys. This above all should be Kirk's legacy.

Although the closing was too late for the "White House Boys", when you think of the thousands upon thousands of boys that were saved from experiencing that horror from 1968 to the present...it's absolutely mind boggling.

Unfortunately, we all know some abuse still happens in the State of Florida institutions, but I don't believe any of the boys (and men) since then have endured the torture that the WHB's did...at least I hope not.

 When the WHB's board members decided to establish an award in Gov. Kirk's honor, with the blessings of most of the WHB's, we wanted to publicly recognize Kirk for his actions and courage for standing up to all those in charge in Tallahassee and around the State that wanted corporal punishment to continue. Thank God, he stood firm, too sad succeeding administrations didn't follow thru to make sure ALL ABUSE ENDED ONCE AND FOR ALL!!!

As the designer of the Claude Kirk Award, I spoke with Gov. Kirk numerous times on the telephone and exchanged many emails. I always fount him to be warm, friendly, gracious,.....and yes, still the charmer. When he received the award that we sent him (he was unable to attend the ceremony due to health problems...he was after all 84 years old then), Kirk was very appreciative to the WHB's and he was impressed with the award and again expressed his regret about being unable to join the WHB's in Tallahassee for the presentation to him and Gus Barreiro. Sadly, I don't believe the WHB's plan to continue with the award, again that would be a fitting memorial for Kirk.

Sorry for the long email....I just wanted to share with you my feelings about Gov. Kirk and will always appreciate what he did for those young men that thankfully will never realize what he saved them from.

Sending you a couple pictures of the award, in case you haven't seen it.

Martha & Buddy Somnitz
Phone: 850 763-4060