William Snowden – The Wakulla Sun

School board, COAST settle

Posted onJuly 1, 2026July 1, 2026AuthorWilliam Snowden

The St. Marks charter school submits new application, pays district’s legal fees

Wakulla School Superintendent Rick Myrhe

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor

The Wakulla County School Board and the Charter School for Arts, Science and Technology (COAST) in St. Marks have reached a settlement, it was announced at the school board meeting on June 15.
The school board voted at the meeting to accept COAST’s newly submitted charter application.
On the recommendation of Superintendent of Schools Rick Myhre, the school board voted to reject the application from COAST back in March.

Charge against Kemp dropped before trial

Posted onJuly 1, 2026July 1, 2026AuthorWilliam Snowden

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor

Days before former County Commissioner Mike Kemp was to go to trial on a felony charge of tampering with a witness, the state attorney’s office dropped the charge.
The state attorney’s office appealed another felony charge against Kemp, dismissed by the judge in the case, for using a public record to harass. That matter is still pending before the 1st District Court of Appeal.

Preparedness Expo

Posted onJuly 1, 2026July 1, 2026AuthorWilliam Snowden

EMERGENCY READINESS

A good crowd turned out for the Emergency Preparedness Expo held on Saturday and got a tour of the new multi-million dollar Emergency Operations Center, scheduled to open in mid-July.

Board votes to prohibit AI data centers

Posted onJune 24, 2026June 23, 2026AuthorWilliam Snowden

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor

County commissioners voted unanimously Monday night to prohibit data centers in Wakulla – and received a standing ovation from the standing-room only audience.
Data centers are profliferating with advancements in artificial intelligence and have become controversial over the enormous strain on local electrical grids and the immense use of water to cool the centers.

County looks at budget options if amendment passes

Posted onJune 24, 2026June 23, 2026AuthorWilliam Snowden

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor

County commissioners held a budget workshop after their regular meeting on Monday night, and much of the focus was on how to respond if the constitutional amendment on property taxes passes in November.
The state Legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment that would increase homestead exemption on residential property from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027-28 and then $200,000 the year after. It will appear on the ballot on the Nov. 3 general election.

$8.5M impact to Wakulla budget

Posted onJune 17, 2026June 16, 2026AuthorWilliam Snowden

Constitutional amendment on property tax would create a hole in local budget

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor

Because an estimated 46% of Wakulla County’s property taxes come from homesteaded property – higher than most other counties – Wakulla will be more affected by the proposed constitutional amendment on property tax that is to be voted on in November.

Qualifying ends; candidates set for races

Posted onJune 17, 2026June 16, 2026AuthorWilliam Snowden

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor

There will be only one competitive political race this season after four candidates qualified to run for county commission District 4 seat.
Qualifying for political office was last week and concluded Friday, June 12, at noon.

It’s time to celebrate America 250! and the time capsule

Posted onJune 10, 2026June 9, 2026AuthorWilliam Snowden

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor

This year is the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America.
In addition to the usual Fourth of July fireworks and festivities at Sopchoppy and St. Marks, there’s going to be something a little different on the courthouse grounds a couple of days before that: digging up a time capsule buried in 1976 for the Bicentennial.
And then burying a new time capsule to be opened in 50 years, in 2076.
Thanks to Clerk of Court Greg James for chairing this committee and bringing together people interested in it.

Plans for new Wakulla High School

Posted onJune 3, 2026June 3, 2026AuthorWilliam Snowden

Demolition is set to begin this week on some of the old parts of the school to make way for $97 million new building

Dignitaries at the groundbreaking held at Wakulla High School on Wednesday, May 27.

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor

The Wakulla County School Board held a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, May 27, to celebrate the planned new high school building.

Friction between boosters, admin

Posted onJune 3, 2026June 3, 2026AuthorWilliam Snowden

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor

There is a divide between some school booster clubs and the Superintendent Rick Myhre as he has sought to clarify financial policies with the groups.
Myhre had made it clear that monies collected by groups for student extracurricular activities are required to be turned over to schools internal accounts to be managed.