COMMUNITY

Wakulla Station News

By VERNA BROCK

(After missing last week, this article is a two-fer!) Wow. What an eventful few days we just lived through. Hurricane Idalia turned slightly to the east before making landfall, sparing Wakulla and Franklin counties the brunt of her wrath. But that doesn’t mean we went completely unscathed. Many folks are still dealing with downed trees and some flooding. To our east, our neighbors are facing months, if not years, of cleaning, clearing, and the rebuilding of their homes, businesses and neighborhoods. Hopefully most are well on the road to some form of normalcy.
Kudos to everyone who rallied to assist in these monumental tasks. To the linemen who jumped into action restoring power to us all, our deep appreciation for your dedication. Almost before Idalia had exited, our linemen were on the job assessing the damage, removing downed trees and getting our lives back up and running. Words fail to express the gratitude of all of us for your amazing courage and quick response. Many thanks to all the citizen neighbors who volunteered to provide and distribute supplies, helped clear roofs and roads, and offered comfort any way they could.
Further south, Central Florida’s west coast experienced extreme flooding and downed trees, all along Idalia’s path. It will take a long time and a whole lot of money to restore Florida’s beauty. Please keep everyone in your prayers and give thanks for the small loss of life Idalia inflicted. And for so many, their property insurance has been deemed insufficient. Did you know flood insurance doesn’t cover STORM SURGE?! Heaven help us all. Is there even a thing called storm surge insurance? I am seriously just shaking my head.
My granddaughter Brooke Smith welcomed a sweet little girl a week ago. Paisley Grace is as beautiful as her mother and loved beyond measure. We are all very excited to meet her.
The Coastal Optimist Club will welcome the folks from our very own wild animal rescue, Florida Wild Mammal Association, on Thursday, Oct. 5th at noon, at Myra Jean’s. We are excited to hear about recent events, updates and progress, especially in light of the recent bad weather. Please plan to join us for this informative presentation.
On Oct. 19th, Property Appraiser Ed Brimner will join us for lunch, to answer questions about TRIM Notices, taxes and how he navigates the intricacies of evaluating Wakulla’s growing tax rolls. I had the opportunity to hear him speak at Herb Donaldson’s Palaver Tree Theater last week and learned several facts about homestead exemptions as well as other exemptions available to citizens.
If you would like to celebrate your civic group, church, or business, consider participating in the Blue Crab Parade in Panacea on Saturday, Sept. 30th. There is no cost to do so; all you have to do is fill out the registration form found on the Blue Crab Festival or Coastal Optimists Facebook pages and send it in. If you’d like to be a vendor, there is a form for that, and more information, on the Blue Crab page. This is the first parade in several years, due to Covid restrictions. Panacea is very excited for the festival and hopes everyone will come out for a day of fun and seafood.
As we welcome (slightly!) cooler weather, plans are shaping up for Homecoming at the Wakulla United Methodist Church. Put Oct. 8th on your calendar, and join us for food and fellowship at 10 a.m. There will be a covered-dish dinner immediately following the service and we look forward to welcoming everyone to this celebration of faith.
Condolences to the family and friends of Jadon Gerrell. After a long life caring for her friends, family and community Ms. Gerrell has gone home to her Lord. What a blessing she has been to all who knew her. Your prayers for so many experiencing catastrophe, loss and grief across the globe are needed also. These events seem never-ending.