Fourth of July celebrations are set for St. Marks and Sopchoppy on Saturday:

• Sopchoppy Fourth of July Festival will begin with the annual parade at 4 p.m. through downtown, then music and fireworks at the City Park.
• St. Marks Fourth of July Celebration will be held beginning at 4 p.m. with vendors and food trucks. Fireworks over the river at dark.

Friends of Wakulla Springs State Park and Wakulla Environmental Institute will present a program on the Sunfish, the underwater robot that has been 3-D mapping the underground cave system of Wakulla Springs.

The mapping of 45-miles of the cave system will be shown at WEI, 170 Preservation Way, on Friday, July 10 from 1 to 5 p.m.
State Rep. Jason Shoaf, R-Port St. Joe, is also scheduled to speak on how the Legislature and universities are partnering with the researchers conducting the work.
The scientists will be on hand to show the tools they use to explore the cave system.

The Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management will be hosting its 2026 Preparedness Expo at the new Emergency Operations Center on Saturday, June 27, from 9 a.m. to noon, Emergency Management Director Jennifer Nagy announced.

It’s being billed as a morning of preparedness, education, and community connection for a safer Wakulla.
This event will also provide the public with a unique opportunity to get a sneak peek of the new EOC prior to the official ribbon-cutting ceremony and move-in, which are scheduled for July, Nagy said.
In addition to preparedness tips, the event will also feature touch-a-truck and emergency vehicle displays, a chance to meet First Responders, and hands-on activities for all ages.
There will also be exhibitors on hand.

A 35-year-old Tallahassee man was killed in a crash early Saturday morning on U.S. Highway 98 near Hideaway Lane, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The man was driving an SUV traveling west at 1:45 a.m. on Saturday, May 30, when he failed to negotiate a curve and went onto the shoulder of the road and struck a tree.
The man, the sole occupant of the car, was pronounced dead on scene, according to FHP.
FHP was assisted by Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office and Wakulla Fire Rescue.

World War II
PFC Joseph Anderson
Tech Sgt. Idus F. Coleman
Sgt. Lawrence E. Council
PFC Tobard E. Clover Jr.
Lt. William H. Green
PFC Waldon G. Grimes
Cpl. John Hardcastle
PFC Arthur Johnson
PFC Edgar M. Pigott
Pvt. Guy Strickland
Columbus M. Woolley (no rank given)

Vietnam
Staff Sgt. Arthur Lee Andrews

Gulf Wars
CPO Matthew Bourgeois
Sgt. Javier Garcia
Lance Cpl. Charles Hanson Jr.
Sgt. First Class Mary Mitchell Taylor

Also recognized was Col. Cecil H. Bolton, Wakulla’s only known Medal of Honor winner. Col. Bolton received the award during World War II.

The full list of Wakulla’s war dead was read by Veteran Service Officer Winston Murphy at the Memorial Day observance. It includes the names of more than 60 local men killed in the Civil War.

This list of war dead was compiled by local resident Andrew Riddle, and there were several additions to this year’s list for new names for World War I, World War II and the Gulf Wars.

Staff Report

The Wakulla High School Lady War Eagles are in the Final Four after a walloping of Paxon 13-2 on Thursday, May 14.

In the semi-final to be held this week on Thursday, May 21, the No. 2 Lady War Eagles will face the No. 3 Eustis Panthers at the Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park in Longwood, in the Orlando metro area. The winner plays in the state championship game on Friday against the winner of No. 1 Coral Springs Charter and No. 4 McKeel Academy.
Because the semi-final is on Wakulla’s graduation day, a special graudation for the five seniors on the softball team will be held on Wednesday, May 20 at 11 a.m.

Staff Report

Last week, Wakulla County Commissioners enacted a burn ban at an emergency meeting held on Wednesday, April 15, citing drought conditions and the need to reduce wildfire risk.

During the Local State of Emergency, the following activities are prohibited in all of Wakulla County:

• Outdoor burning of any combustible material, including but not limited to: yard waste, household paper products, bonfires and campfires, warming fires, outdoor fireplaces and chimneys, and cooking fires not contained within approved grills; and
• Any outdoor activity creating flames or sparks capable of ignition, including but not limited to: fireworks, sparklers, and other incendiary devices.
  The following activities are exempt from the prohibition:
• Cooking food completely contained within an enclosed gas or charcoal grill.
• Firefighter training conducted by Wakulla County Fire Rescue or state or federal agencies.
• Burn operations approved by the Florida Forest Service.
  This declared Local State of Emergency and Burn Ban shall remain in effect until April 22, and may be extended in 7 day increments as conditions warrant.

Staff Report

The Wakulla County Commission has set a special meeting for Wednesday, April 15 at 2 p.m. to consider a resolution to declare a local state of emergency due to drought conditions and implement a county-wide burn ban.
The meeting will be held in the commission meeting room.

Staff Report

Wakulla County native and Tallahassee Police Officer Michael “Cody” Terranova was killed Friday in a boating accident on the Wakulla River.
According to reports from the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office, Terrranova, 41, was off-duty and boating in the river when he struck a “fixed object” and was thrown from the boat.

Another boater found his empty boat. The sheriff’s office and state wildlife officers began a search and found him in the river but were unable to resuscitate him.
A neighbor and very close friend of Terranova’s is Aric Voorting, who has been friends for more than 30 years.
“I love Cody because he just had a super personality that gripped a hold on you and never would let go,” said Voorting. “He always made everyone feel special and welcomed; he talked to everyone and was always willing to help someone.”
Wakulla Sun correspondent Linda Ann McDonald said she met Cody for the first time because of his willingness to help others. “Last winter, I called Aric to help with winterizing the well at my house. In no time at all, Aric and Cody came to help, equipped with tarps, tape and insulation to prevent my well from freezing. After seeing for the first time and his special, genuine, beautiful smile, I knew I had made another friend that day after spending just a short time with him.
Terranova leaves behind his wife, Ciera. Voorting said that “Cody was a devoted husband who loved his wife more than anything in the world. She was the anchor in his life… very caring, looking out for everyone all the time. I love them both,” Voorting said.
“I never dreamed he would leave me this way and I will never forget the fun times although the best times we had were always on the Wakulla River house dock with friends.
“The memories of fun trips and fun times will never be forgotten, and I will miss him,” Voorting said.