Verbal exchange at Sopchoppy budget workshop

City Clerk Ashley Schilling yells a vulgarity and walks out of budget workshop

At a budget workshop for the City of Sopchoppy at the end of August, there was “verbal exchange between (Public Works Director Seth) Green and (City Clerk Ashley) Schilling,” according to minutes of the meeting. “Schilling abruptly walked out of the meeting and returned after a period of time.”

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Artistic swimmers perform at Wakulla Springs

The Serinas Artistic Swimmers prepare to perform.

By LINDA ANN McDONALD
Correspondent

The Tallahassee Serinas Artistic Swimming Team showcased their award-winning athleticism as they performed in the waters of Wakulla Springs on Saturday, an event hosted by the Friends of Wakulla Springs.
The athletes, ranging in age from 9 to 17 years old, included Baelynn Bixler, Elena Gelhardt, Elyse Gelhardt, Clara Hunter, Julia Hunter, Emma Rinehart, Jasper Brooks and Zoë Fisher.

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Wakulla Community Theater holds Dolly event

Wakulla Community Theater honors the late singer with songs and more

Luna Martinez performing ‘Here You Come Again.’

Wakulla Community Theater held a Dolly! event, a celebration of Dolly Parton’s life and work, at the Historical Sopchoppy Auditorium on Friday, Oct. 2.
Directed by Mina Sutton and Mary Katherine Westmark on the stage crew, and produced by the City of Sopchoppy, Dolly! featured a Dolly Parton lookalike contest, performances of Parton’s songs, prize drawings, trivia, and more.

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Jesse Rice is hunting Lionfish

Jesse Rice with a mess of Lionfish.

By LINDA ANN
McDONALD

Combining the fun of diving and fishing with the responsibility of protecting Wakulla’s ecological and marine resources is exactly why Jesse Rice targets invasive lionfish.
Lionfish are predatory reef fish. They eat native fish, which can reduce native populations and have negative effects on the overall reef habitat and health as they can eliminate species that serve important ecological roles such as fish that keep algae in check on the reefs. Lionfish also compete for food with native predatory fish such as grouper and snapper.
As the owner of Trident restaurant, Rice turns an invasive predator into a culinary highlight by transforming his catch into delicious, Gulf-to-table meals.

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