COMMUNITY
- COMMUNITY HOME
- DAIRY QUEEN OPENS
- ALDI MAKES OFFER TO BUY WINN-DIXIE
- PLANNING BOARD ADVISES BOCC TO UPDATE SPRINGS ORDINANCE
- BICYCLIST HIT BY TPD OFFICER IN CRAWFORDILLE
- VETERAN CECIL STRICKLAND AWARDED QUILT OF VALOR
- SOPCHOPPY DRAFTS PLAN FOR EXPANDING WATER SERVICE
- KAYAK SWAP AND SALE IS HELD ON SATURDAY AT MAGNUSON
- CLASS OF ‘73 REUNION
- IT’S TIME FOR WAR EAGLE FOOTBALL!
- ON THE HORIZON
- LIBRARY NEWS
- BUCKHORN NEWS
- WAKULLA STATION NEWS
- CHAMBER NEWS
Wakulla Station News
By VERNA BROCKAs I write this, we’re beginning a full week of near 100 degree temperatures, and floods, fires and earthquakes(!) are ravaging the West Coast and Hawaii. I know everyone is lifting prayers for the folks from Maui to Northwestern Canada who are facing these disasters.
Please remember my former boss, Cheryl Turner and her family in your prayers too. She was the director of Wilderness Coast Libraries for close to 20 years. I learned this past week she is receiving palliative care for a very serious illness.
On a brighter note, Clem Bunker was feeling well enough to attend church this past Sunday and join a group for lunch at the Breakfast Station. We celebrated the birthdays of David Hinson and Cindy Blackstock, and had a great time of fellowship and good food.
On Saturday Ed and I were able to lunch at Wakulla Springs, and purchased two of the old chairs from the Lodge Restaurant. If you would like your own small piece of Wakulla Springs, reach out to the Friends of Wakulla Springs who are selling the chairs. All profits will benefit the Springs, so it is an absolute win-win. You can find them online at Facebook. Check it out!
I learned last week, from Linda Alexander, that there is a request to change the Comprehensive Plan and zoning on a piece of property at the corner of Shell Point Road and Hwy. 98 (the Coastal Highway). The proposal seeks to allow an RV Park with over 150 spots on roughly 13 acres. It would include a possible convenience store, pickleball court, entertainment pavilion.
However much this may seem reasonable, it overlooks the presence of the Richardson Cemetery on this same property. Ground radar has discovered an additional 28 unmarked graves beyond the parameters of the cemetery, and it is possible there are more burial sites.
This cemetery is one of the oldest in Wakulla County, and dates to pre-Civil War history. It is the oldest integrated cemetery in the county, and members of both Black and White families continue to be interred there. The RV Park, just by the nature of its purpose, would be a huge intrusion on funerals. Plus, there is a great concern for any graves that may exist there.
If you share these concerns, please plan to attend the appeal hearing at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 5th (the Tuesday following the Labor Day holiday). This corner property has been the subject of at least two prior attempts at unsuitable development over the past 30 years, and public outcry helped prevent a travesty from occurring. If you can participate, please do.
Believe it or not, it is time to sign up for the Blue Crab Festival Parade! If your organization, church, or business wants to join the parade, go to the Blue Crab Fest website and fill out the application. It will be on September 30th, which is really just around the corner. You can also reach out to any Coastal Optimist Club member (including me) for more information.