Drilling ban bills advance in legislature
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Drilling ban bills advance in legislature

A bipartisan bill championed by State Rep. Jason Shoaf, to ban drilling in environmentally sensitive areas, got unanimous support in the first of its committee stops in the Florida House of Representatives. After getting a 16-0 blessing in the Resources & Disasters Subcommittee, it was now set to be heard Tuesday, April 8 in the…

City celebrates re-opening of Leslie Street
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City celebrates re-opening of Leslie Street

It wasn’t an ordinary ribbon cutting for just an ordinary street. Rather, at a small gathering of Apalachicola and Franklin County leaders Monday morning, the ribbon was cut on the recently completed reopening of Leslie Street, a small street that runs alongside the Franklin County courthouse in Apalachicola. For the past five years, this short…

Not afraid to masquerade
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Not afraid to masquerade

The social event of the year at Franklin County High School took place with an elegant flourish Saturday night, as the Seahawks enjoyed the 2025 prom. With the theme of a masquerade ball, the students celebrated at the Fort Coombs Armory, under the watchful eye of class sponsors Erica Stratton and Alisha Brown. At 9…

Superintendent proposes four-day school week
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Superintendent proposes four-day school week

At a series of town hall meetings throughout Franklin County next month, residents will have a chance to weigh in on what could next year become the most consequential change to the school district since the earliest days of its public schools in the 1860s. After weighing a proposal brought to his desk by leaders…

DOH advises against swimming at Carrabelle Beach 
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DOH advises against swimming at Carrabelle Beach 

The Florida Department of Health in Franklin County has issued a water quality advisory for Carrabelle Beach, following tests completed on Thursday, March 20. The tests indicated that the water quality at Carrabelle Beach does not meet the recreational water quality criteria for Enterococcus bacteria recommended by the Florida DOH. DOH-Franklin advises against any water-related…

Apalachicola hustles to remedy stinky water
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Apalachicola hustles to remedy stinky water

A lot of residents in Apalachicola have noses like Aaron Matt and his daughter.  “The water is absolutely disgusting, and it has been for at least a month or so, maybe more,” he said. “Several months ago I would notice it every so often after washing clothes, and I just thought the washing machine was…

Georgia ‘Ribpublicans’ win Eastpoint cookoff
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Georgia ‘Ribpublicans’ win Eastpoint cookoff

A pair of good ole boys from Georgia with the politically charged name “Ribpublicans” took the top prize at the silver anniversary Eastport Rib Cookoff Saturday.  But teammates Jonathan Sands and Tony Morris, both from Adel, insist the name doesn’t mean what you might think. “It’s got nothing to do politically,” said Sands, pointing to…

Apalachicola hires Brillhart as city manager
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Apalachicola hires Brillhart as city manager

The Apalachicola city commission has turned to a veteran administrator of both city and governments to become its new city manager. By a 3-1 vote at a special meeting March 4, the commissioners voted in favor of a motion by commissioner Despina George to extend an employment offer to Michael Brillhart, 45, who currently serves…

Bacteria levels exceeded in Carrabelle, Alligator Point waters
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Bacteria levels exceeded in Carrabelle, Alligator Point waters

The Florida Department of Health in Franklin County has issued a water quality advisory for Alligator Point and Carrabelle Beach, Tests completed on Thursday, March 6 indicate that the water quality at Alligator Point and Carrabelle Beach does not meet the recreational water quality criteria for Enterococcus bacteria recommended by the Florida Department of Health. DOH-Franklin advises against…

Prescribed burns today in Franklin County
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Prescribed burns today in Franklin County

Two prescribed burns are slated for Franklin County today. Jerry Pitts, at the Box-R Wildlife Management Area, said a 250-acre prescribed burn will be conducted at the Box-R WMA on the western edge of the county. Nathan Kastenholz, lead area biologist at the Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area said a prescribed burn will be…