Fire ravages Alligator Point home
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Fire ravages Alligator Point home

An early morning fire Friday, July 5 completely destroyed an Alligator Point vacation home, but thanks to the quick thinking of some neighborhood teenagers, no one was hurt. Dickie Hosford, president of the Alligator Point Volunteer Fire Department, said the fire started sometime after 12:30 a.m. at a house at 1577 Alligator Drive. The cause…

Children of the red, white and blue
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Children of the red, white and blue

Throughout the Forgotten Coast, families gathered to celebrate the spirit of independence that is woven into the fabric of America. They ate, they played, they listened to music and they enjoyed fireworks, all part of a celebration of the nation’s 248th birthday. Essential to the holiday is the play of children, and in both Franklin…

Two pedestrians killed crossing U.S. 98
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Two pedestrians killed crossing U.S. 98

Two pedestrians from Tallahassee were struck and killed Saturday night while crossing U.S. 98 near Lanark Village. According to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol, a 43-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman were walking north across the highway at the intersection near Arizona Street at about 10:10 p.m. when they were hit by a…

Carrabelle to wrap up week of fireworks tonight
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Carrabelle to wrap up week of fireworks tonight

Carrabelle will wrap up a week’s worth of fireworks along the Forgotten Coast Saturday night, with a display of pyrotechnics set to go off at dark-thirty on July 6. The show had been originally scheduled for Friday, July 5 but had to be postponed after a glitch developed with the display. City officials said the…

Two-car crash slows island bridge traffic
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Two-car crash slows island bridge traffic

A two-car collision on the bridge between Eastpoint and St. George Island has slowed down traffic. A report by the Florida Highway Patrol said the accident occurred about 11:43 a.m. ET, with injuries reported. Ambulances from both Franklin and Gulf counties responded, with at least one of the motorists involved being transported to Bay Medical…

Franklin County tax base sees 7% jump
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Franklin County tax base sees 7% jump

Based on good faith estimates submitted to the Florida Department of Revenue in advance of this week’s preliminary valuations, Franklin County’s tax base looks to be about 7 percent greater than last year. Property Appraiser Rhonda Skipper’s office estimates that Franklin County has seen growth of about 7.1 percent, a roughly $215.5 million increase to…

Simon touts school choice in campaign stop
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Simon touts school choice in campaign stop

Freshman State Senator Corey Simon, running for a second term in the state legislature, stopped by Apalachicola last month as part of a fundraising and campaign swing in Franklin County. After a robust introduction by Sheriff A.J. Smith, and some get-fired-up remarks to the Republican audience by county chairman Kristy Banks, Simon spoke June 20…

Big Bend Minority Chamber of Commerce honors Willis
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Big Bend Minority Chamber of Commerce honors Willis

The Big Bend Minority Chamber of Commerce last month honored Apalachicola’s Helen Ausley Willis with its Trailblazer award. Presented to women for their career success and their leadership role in volunteering and community service, the Trailblazer recipients, selected by the chamber’s Women Business Council, are chosen for the example they set to inspire and empower…