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Doctor’s orders

Dunn rallies GOP to take back House EASTPOINT – It would not be an apt description to say U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn served up red meat in a fiery speech to a hungry Republican audience last week. Rather, the three-term congressman in the sprawling 2nd District, that encompasses all or part of 19 North Florida…

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FCHS seniors recognized with scholarships

The senior recognition night last week didn’t draw a huge crowd, and the number of scholarships were down over previous years. But the enthusiasm was strong.  Guidance Counselor Melanie Copeland said the financial impact of COVID-19 on donors had cut into the number of scholarships. Still, based in large part on the financial total of…

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Governor meets with meth task force

TALLAHASSEE – Governor Ron DeSantis last week met the Capitol with sheriffs from 15 rural counties to discuss the methamphetamine epidemic which continues to plague the state’s rural populations. Franklin County Sheriff AJ Smith has spearheaded the creation of meth task force, and he led the meeting, which was joined by Gulf County Sheriff Mike…

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Camp Gordon Johnston commemorates D-Day

Carrabelle’s Camp Gordon Johnston World War II Museum is presenting a special exhibit commemorating D-Day open now through Wednesday, June 30. When Camp Gordon Johnston opened in 1942, it was for the purpose of training infantry divisions, including the US Army 4th Infantry Division, and their support units in amphibious warfare. This training and the…

Island park’s recovery earns it Top 10 beach

St. George Island has once again made the list of the best beaches in America in a prestigious 30-year-old annual list created by a South Florida professor of coastal science. Specifically citing the beach at Dr. Julian Bruce St. George Island State Park, Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, director of the Laboratory for Coastal Research at…

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Infrastructure targeted with lodging tax hike

 With little fanfare and unanimous support, the Franklin County commissioners voted May 18 to increase the lodging tax on short-term rentals from 2 to 3 percent. And they did it for three main reasons. Infrastructure, infrastructure and infrastructure. With a power to increase the tax based on a super-majority vote, and with a public hearing…