Crooked River shows off new stage at Lantern Fest
| | |

Crooked River shows off new stage at Lantern Fest

Scores of hanging lanterns cast a colorful glow over the Crooked River Lighthouse Nov. 11 for Lantern Fest, held each year in honor of the lighthouse’s birthday, now over 127 years old. None more impressive in that mystic light was the enormous wooden boat that will serve as the new sound stage and playground. The…

Sunday morning fire destroys River Road home
| |

Sunday morning fire destroys River Road home

A large two-story home just west of Carrabelle went up in flames early Sunday morning, leaving no one hurt and only the carport and garage still standing. According to Carl Whaley, the chief of the Carrabelle Volunteer Fire Department, the department received a call at 2:48 a.m. Sunday that a fire was raging at 193…

Joel Norred new Franklin County sheriff
|

Joel Norred new Franklin County sheriff

He’s held a holster full of law enforcement positions, but right before Halloween, Joel Norred was promoted to one he considers his greatest honor. At a surprise breakfast at the sheriff’s office Oct. 27, Sheriff A.J. Smith presented Norred a sheriff’s badge, albeit honorary, in a board room full of the many people with whom…

Off premise sign rule rankles gym
| | |

Off premise sign rule rankles gym

The stricter enforcement of Apalachicola’s rules against posting signs outside of the premises of a business or facility has angered some within the city. And one of the most prominent of those who are upset are people in the physical condition to wrestle with the issue. Stephen Dykes, who manages the Forgotten Coast Fitness &…

A day to celebrate service to country
| | | | |

A day to celebrate service to country

In three separate ceremonies over two days, the county paid tribute to its veterans. The first Veterans Day program was at the First Baptist Christian School on Friday morning, in the church sanctuary where the students there presented a traditional program of songs and readings, blending historical passages like the Gettysburg Address, the preamble to…

Commissioner Lockley dies at 72
| | |

Commissioner Lockley dies at 72

Noah Lockley, Jr., who served for nearly two decades as county commissioner, passed away Tuesday afternoon at about 2 p.m. at his home in Apalachicola, surrounded by family, at the age of 72 A steady stream of friends, from the Hill neighborhood where he grew up, and from throughout the country, made visits over the…

EOC to be built in Eastpoint
| |

EOC to be built in Eastpoint

The new emergency operations center won’t be going up on the outskirts of the Apalachicola Regional Airport as originally planned. Instead, county commissioners last month gave the go-ahead to build the replacement facility off Highway 65 in Eastpoint. The site, now in the hands of the Eastpoint Water and Sewer District, consists of a little…

Seafood Festival has visitors ‘feelin’ alright’
| | | |

Seafood Festival has visitors ‘feelin’ alright’

The 60th annual Florida Seafood Festival last weekend is in the record books, and while it didn’t break any attendance records, the turnout was pretty respectable. “Attendance was up from last year,” said John Solomon, president of the all-volunteer board of directors. “Many vendors I spoke to said they had a very awesome year.” At…

Get ready for the Florida Seafood Festival!
| | | | | |

Get ready for the Florida Seafood Festival!

Get ready for the biggest weekend of the year, as thousands of visitors will flock to Franklin County for the 60th annual Florida Seafood Festival. The weather is expected to be in the mid to high 70s, with no rain in sight, just plates full of oysters and shrimp and fair food. The festival, organized…

Workshop to explore Nature Journaling
| | |

Workshop to explore Nature Journaling

The second in a series of Susan McClendon art workshops later this month will focus on Nature Journaling, taught by a master of the art form. The workshop will be instructed by Melanie Humble, an education specialist at the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve, on Saturday, Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at…