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

ByDavid Adlerstein

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

ByDavid Adlerstein

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

ByDavid Adlerstein

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

ByDavid Adlerstein

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…

DeSantis signs controversial bear bill
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DeSantis signs controversial bear bill

ByJim Turner

Gov. Ron DeSantis on June 20 signed a controversial measure that will bolster self-defense arguments for people who kill bears on their property. The bill about bears (HB 87) provides a sort of stand-your-ground defense for people who shoot bears to defend themselves or property. But with bear hunting long a controversial issue in Florida,…

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

ByDavid Adlerstein

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…

Library helps to create U.S. citizens
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Library helps to create U.S. citizens

BySpecial to the Times

Miguel Castillo and his wife Beatriz have studied and passed their US citizenship tests, thanks to resources at the Apalachicola Margaret Key Public Library.  Librarian Lucy Carter said to study for the US Naturalization test, the married couple checked out bilingual Civics flash cards created by US Citizenship and Immigration Services to study. Miguel has…

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

ByDavid Adlerstein

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…