William Snowden – The Wakulla Sun

Lake Ellen boat ramp

Posted onOctober 14, 2026October 14, 2026AuthorWilliam Snowden

County abandons decades-long effort to keep public access to private lake

The closed county boat ramp at Lake Ellen with barricades and No Trespassing signs.

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN Editor

Wakulla County commissioners took a step back from a battle that has gone on for years: providing public access to Lake Ellen, which is a private lake

Library opens with big crowd

Posted onOctober 14, 2026October 14, 2026AuthorWilliam Snowden

Library Director Linda Oaks cuts the ribbon at the new library building located at the community center property. Oaks with the Quilting Guild’s Hazel Walker. — Library Director Linda Oaks cuts the ribbon at the new library building located at the community center property.

Hundreds of people turned out on a rainy Tuesday morning for the opening of the new Wakulla County Public Library.
A ribbon-cutting was held, hosted by the Wakulla Chamber of Commerce, and Library Director Linda Oaks cut the ribbon to officially open the facility.

Verbal exchange at Sopchoppy budget workshop

Posted onOctober 8, 2026October 8, 2026AuthorWilliam Snowden

City Clerk Ashley Schilling yells a vulgarity and walks out of budget workshop

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN Editor

At a budget workshop for the City of Sopchoppy at the end of August, there was “verbal exchange between (Public Works Director Seth) Green and (City Clerk Ashley) Schilling,” according to minutes of the meeting. “Schilling abruptly walked out of the meeting and returned after a period of time.”

Candidate forum

Posted onSeptember 30, 2026September 30, 2026AuthorWilliam Snowden

The three county commission candidates share their views

Candidates Carrie Hughes, Beverly Keister and Patricia Dyszer at the forum.

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN Editor

The three candidates for the district 4 seat on the county commission appeared at a candidate forum on Thursday.

County passes ordinance prohibiting data centers

Posted onSeptember 30, 2026September 30, 2026AuthorWilliam Snowden

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN Editor

Wakulla County Commissioners voted unanimously last week to prohibit data centers in the county.

War Eagles wallop Suwannee, 37-7

Posted onSeptember 30, 2026October 6, 2026AuthorWilliam Snowden

PHOTOS BY GERALD BROWN Receiver Ryheem Moore does a toe-tap on a catch in the end zone for a touchdown. Running back Bryce Manning does a flip as the War Eagles come out of the tunnel to start the game against Suwannee.

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor

The game was a tale of two halves – in the first half, the Suwannee Bulldogs controlled the pace of the game and went in a halftime up 7-6 over the Wakulla War Eagles.
In the second half, the War Eagles came out and dominated their district rival – the defense swarmed and pressured the Bulldog quarterback, and the offense sccored 31 points to improve to 5-1 (1-0 in district play).

$27M for WEI

Posted onSeptember 23, 2026September 24, 2026AuthorWilliam Snowden

The money will be used to build a Workforce Training and Resilence Facility

Jim Murdaugh, president of TSC, flanked by Education Commissioner Henry Mack and Christian Caban, chair of the TSC Board of Trustees and others.

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN Editor

Tallahassee State College announced a $27.3 million investment in Wakulla County for a new facility that will expand workforce education and training opportunities while strengthening community resilience.

Murder trial set for Bahamian policeman

Posted onSeptember 23, 2026September 24, 2026AuthorWilliam Snowden

Berneil Pinder was charged after shooting Cody Castillo of Wakulla outside a Nassau bar

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor

The police officer who shot a Wakulla man to death outside a Nassau bar in March has an upcoming court date on a murder charge on Sept. 25.

9/11 memorial held

Posted onSeptember 16, 2026September 16, 2026AuthorWilliam Snowden

The Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office held its annual memorial to commemorate the Sept. 11 attacks. This year marked the 25th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon using hijacked airplanes as missiles.

Raker returned to Wakulla

Posted onSeptember 10, 2026September 10, 2026AuthorWilliam Snowden

Wanted for a double homicide in Sopchoppy, he was captured in Mexico on Aug. 13, taken to Texas, and returned to Wakulla County on Saturday

Raker was captured in Mexico, across the border from Brownsville, Texas.

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor

Joseph Ronnie Raker was returned to Wakulla County on Saturday, Sept. 5, according to the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office.
Raker was wanted as a suspect in a double murder: the bodies of Rebecca Lynn Thomas, 58, and William Luper III, 49, were found in the woods near a home on Otter Creek in Sopchoppy on Aug. 4. Both died as the result of multiple gunshot wounds.
The warrants for murder were issued for Raker on Aug. 5, along with a $10,000 reward for his capture.