As Sanaullah departs, health care challenges loom
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As Sanaullah departs, health care challenges loom

Franklin County is bracing for changes in its health care landscape on everything from the availability of its limited number of primary care physicians, to modifications in its hospital structure, to who city and county governments choose to insure its workforce. Mary Mayhew, president of the Florida Hospital Association, which represents more than 200 hospitals…

New seats cushion laughs at Players’ mystery
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New seats cushion laughs at Players’ mystery

With four nights of sold-out performances of a wacky murder mystery, the Panhandle Players ushered in a new era in audience comfort last weekend. Because the Panhandle Players have invested in ensuring the Chapman Theatre now seats 200 on new cushioned seats complete with cup holders – fewer than the more than 300 aging wooden…

Apalach tackles lethal bronzing outbreak
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Apalach tackles lethal bronzing outbreak

Apalachicola took advantage of this year’s Arbor Day to not only give away trees, but to give away free advice on how to address an increasingly problematic tree disease that has the potential to wreak havoc on palm trees in both Franklin and Gulf counties. Lethal bronzing disease, an incurable disease first diagnosed in South…

Franklin County’s oldest boat dealer sold
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Franklin County’s oldest boat dealer sold

Wefings Marine, Franklin County’s oldest boat dealership, dating back 115 years, has been sold to a consortium of South Florida investors in their first venture into the Panhandle. Nautical Ventures, based in Fort Lauderdale with dealership locations also in Palm Beach, Sarasota, Stuart, and Tampa acquired the Eastpoint location as of the first of the…

Abell guilty of second degree murder
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Abell guilty of second degree murder

Jury decides that beating death of Aileen Seiden was not premeditated After deliberating for about five hours, a Franklin County jury found Zachary Abell guilty of second degree murder this afternoon in the brutal beating death of Aileen Seiden nearly six years ago at an Eastpoint motel. This means that Abell has now been convicted…

‘The kind of thing I see in motor vehicle crashes’
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‘The kind of thing I see in motor vehicle crashes’

Chief medical examiner details result of brutal beating EDITOR’S NOTE: This story contains discussion of sexuality and graphic details of a murder. It is not advisable for children to read. Following harrowing testimony of how Aileen Seiden was beaten so badly that nearly all her ribs were broken, with neither of her traveling companions ever…

‘How the heck do I react to this?’
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‘How the heck do I react to this?’

Friend testifies how he turned in suspects in Aileen Seiden murder The Davie boat captain who alerted authorities of the whereabouts of the two people who were later charged with the murder of a South Florida woman at an Eastpoint motel nearly six years ago took the witness stand Tuesday. Michael Picavet, called as a…

A body found, a room in disarray
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A body found, a room in disarray

Seiden trial resumes Monday with FDLE crime scene analyst on the stand The murder trial of Zachary Abell, accused of taking part in the beating death of Aileen Seiden nearly six years ago in Eastpoint, ended on a cliffhanger moment Friday afternoon. The testimony of Ivan Brenes, the FDLE crime scene analyst who collected evidence…

‘We’ve got to see this through’
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‘We’ve got to see this through’

Community programs celebrate Dr. King holiday In keeping with the nationwide theme of “Living The Dream Starts With Me,” both Franklin and Gulf counties marked the observance of Monday’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday with walks down the main public street, followed by a program to celebrate the legacy of the famed civil rights…

Opening arguments set for Friday morning in Seiden murder trial
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Opening arguments set for Friday morning in Seiden murder trial

Jury selection takes two full days Opening arguments in the Aileen Seiden murder trial are scheduled to begin Friday morning, following a full day of selecting a 12-member jury. The 14 people chosen, 12 jurors and two alternates,  during the daylong voir dire process are equally split between men and women, and roughly evenly scattered…