Auburn partners with land trust on workforce home

Auburn partners with land trust on workforce home

Homes built for working people don’t have to be shoddy to be affordable, and can save money in the long run as they build generational wealth. That’s the message being sent by Auburn University’s Rural Studio and Front Porch Initiative, which is partnering with the Franklin County Community Development and Land Trust Corporation to design…

FCHS weightlifting program taking shape
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FCHS weightlifting program taking shape

Sophomore Kaiden Lewis has twice paced the Franklin County boys weightlifting program this month, taking victories in the 139-pound weight class at a pair of meets at Wakulla High School. Coach John Cooper, who has intertwined the weightlifting program with football offseason workouts, took 11 lifters to the Feb. 2 meet, where the Seahawks competed…

Black history festival outdoes itself
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Black history festival outdoes itself

By most every measure, the 20th African-American History Festival lived up to its anniversary status last weekend. Blessed by sunny skies, and running like clockwork in the hands of organizers H’COLA (Hillside Coalition of Laborers for Apalachicola), the festival brought out a huge crowd and a robust number of booths.  The local nonprofits and government…

Lady Seahawks open with pre-season wins
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Lady Seahawks open with pre-season wins

The Lady Seahawks varsity softball team opened the 2023 season with a pair of pre-season wins, downing Marianna and Freeport. On Feb. 14, Franklin County edged Class 3A powerhouse Marianna 6-5. Sophomore pitcher Sarah Ham took the win, while sophomore Micahlyn O’Neal was 2 for 2 with two RBI to lead the offense.  Ham belted…

Carrabelle police chief abruptly steps down
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Carrabelle police chief abruptly steps down

Carrabelle city commissioners on Tuesday morning accepted the resignation of Police Chief Kevin Shuman, effective March 3. The commissioners voted unanimously at the special meeting to accept the resignation, which Shuman announced Friday in a letter he wrote to City Administrator Courtney Dempsey. In his letter, Shuman, who has served as chief for the past…

FSU researcher wants to hear from the fishermen
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FSU researcher wants to hear from the fishermen

For all those in the county’s fishing community who have felt that pointy-headed academics and other experts in the field of marine fisheries haven’t really listened to what they have to say, help is on the way. If you have insight into the historical changes that have transformed the Apalachicola Bay fishing community over the…

Elections office could move to Eastpoint
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Elections office could move to Eastpoint

It’s not a done deal yet, but with the county commission’s go-ahead last week to get appraisals on acreage next to the Tourist Development Office on US 98, the next step could be to relocate the supervisor of elections office there. By a unanimous vote Feb. 7, the county commissioner approved a motion by Commissioner…

Chef Sampler celebrates changing dining scene
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Chef Sampler celebrates changing dining scene

There’s been a lot of changes in the dining scene on the Forgotten Coast in the three years since the Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce last hosted the Chef Sampler. Since 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic first put a serious crimp in the styles of dining spots, and shuttered the Sampler, there’s been closures and…

Regional finals Tuesday at the Nest!
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Regional finals Tuesday at the Nest!

Seahawks down Blountstown 47-43 After falling behind in the first half, Franklin County battled back in the third quarter to seize the lead and then held on to down Blountstown on the Tigers’ home court 47-43 Thursday night. The win , combined with Cottondale’s 41-39 win over Sneads, means the higher-seeded Seahawks will host the…