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Red tide bloom kills fish, besets humans

A red tide bloom, dating back to Oct. 1, continues to beset Apalachicola Bay, contributing to fish deaths as well as short-lived respiratory distress to some individuals. On Tuesday, the Gulf County Board of County Commissioners passed a resolution declaring a local state of emergency after receiving reports from commercial fishers of strange behavior in…

Homecoming rides off to see the wizard

In an enormous parade Friday afternoon in Eastpoint, the community celebrated Franklin County High School’s 2021 Homecoming, which this year had the theme of “The Wizard of Oz.” Led by parade grand marshal Sheryl Clouse, of St. George Island,  an energetic volunteer in causes throughout the community, and brought up at the end by  Principal…

Bay restoration work nears critical juncture

The Apalachicola Bay System Initiative, a multi-million dollar effort funded by Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc. and spearheaded by researchers from Florida State University, is preparing to unveil its priorities as it embarks on solidifying a management and restoration plan for the oyster reefs and the health of the bay. Helped by an audiovisual presentation, Sandra…

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Simpson ties pay raises to prison shutdowns

Senate President Wilton Simpson has a message for state prison leaders: Shut down institutions if you want pay raises for overworked corrections officers. Simpson, in a phone interview last week with The News Service of Florida, blamed chronic staffing shortages and high turnover rates on corrections officials’ “lack of vision” and “myopia” in operating the…