Paul Johnson, former Chamber president, passes
Paul Johnson
By WILLIAM SNOWDEN Editor
Paul Johnson, a local environmentalist and former president of the Wakulla Chamber of Commerce, died unexpectedly on Friday, Nov. 4, just before his 70th birthday.
During his term as Chamber president in 2009, Johnson kicked off the Shop Local campaign to encourage Wakulla residents to support locally owned businesses. Shop Local is still encouraged by the Chamber. As an environmentalist, Johnson was involved in lobbying state agencies in Tallahassee and throughout Florida and the southeast region.
One local issue that he felt tarred him was his work for Wakulla Springs Bottled Water, a proposed water bottling plant to be located a couple of miles near Wakulla Springs. Johnson was brought on board by D.P. High, owner of the proposed facility, and contended the withdrawal of water for the plant would have a very minimal impact on local water. There was also the promise of good-paying jobs.
The facility had a permit to withdraw up to 1.9 million gallons of water, but the plans provoked a wave of local opposition to the plant and it was ultimately rejected in 2007.
Johnson was soft-spoken with a quick smile and a quiet laugh.
Chris Beatty, founder of wildlife group, dies
Chris Beatty feeding fawns in 2002.
By WILLIAM SNOWDEN Editor
Chris Beatty, founder and longtime director of Florida Wild Mammal Association, died on Monday, Nov. 7. Along with her husband, Mike, and daughter, Jessica, Beatty had long cared for injured and orphaned wildlife at her home on Edgar Poole Road in the southern part of the county. Scores of volunteers helped with caring for the animals over the years.
It was especially difficult caring for the number of animals taken in by FWMA during the spring, or “baby season.” Beatty would sleep only a few hours a day to keep up the rigorous feeding schedule of babies. FWMA has held fundraisers in recent years for plans to buy a larger piece of land and construct new facilities. FWMA did buy some land, and had done some land clearing and was holding fundraisers for more work.
Beatty was fiercely dedicated to the animals she took in, cared for, and ultimately released – if their injuries allowed them to be released.
In person, she was quiet and shy. Jessica appears at festivals and other events with some of the tame wildlife to allow people to pet the animals, while Beatty stayed in the background.
She had health problems in recent years.
