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

Commissioners voted unanimously at their meeting on Monday, Oct. 5 to abandon the hand-launch boat ramp on Lake Ellen Drive that the county constructed several years ago.

Back in the early 1960s, when the Jones family developed Lake Ellen Estates, the roads in the subdivision were dedicated to the county. In the late 1960s, the state Game and Fish Department constructed a boat ramp on the lake, but it was put on private property.

Fast forward to 2017, Steve Fults bought property on the lake that included the state boat ramp – and Fults closed it to the public, constructing barricades. Fults, at the time, cited concerns about his personal liability for boaters since the ramp is on his land.

The county, using the theory that the road maintenance agreement gives the public a right to access the lake, then constructed a hand-launch boat ramp at the end of Lake Ellen Drive, which runs to the edge of the lake.

There was an ongoing legal battle between Fults and the county over the location of that county ramp, including a lawsuit contending the county has no right to construct a boat ramp on the private property.

At the meeting on Oct. 5, several of the neighborhood’s residents showed up in support of closing the boat ramp.

On the agenda was a proposal to buy out Fults property for $250,000 – based on an appraisal – and built a public boat ramp.

Jimmie Duggar, noting the potential financial impacts to the county if Amendment 3 passes in November, recommended maintaining the current status to close access to the lake by the public.

Resident Sara Robinson said she was speaking for several of her neighbors who were opposed to opening the boat ramp: “My biggest concern is safety,” she said. You can’t have more than two or three people out there on the lake at a time, she said, and she tells her children they have to wait for people to get off the lake.

She also asserted that the lake is private, not public. “Keep the lake private,” she said.

Robinson noted that four people have been killed on the lake since the 1960s – those deaths involved boating and water-skiing.

Commissioner Fred Nichols made a motion to close the boat ramp, and it was seconded by Commissioner Quincee Messersmith.

Commissioner Ralph Thomas commented that it wasn’t the right time to spend $250,000 to give the public access, but indicated his belief that the county has right-of-way for Lake Ellen Drive, and that public road gives the public a right to access the lake.

“We’re walking away from it now,” Thomas said, adding: “We’re just kicking the can down the road.”

In a conversation after the meeting, Thomas said the issue has dragged on for nine years that he’s been on the board and he anticipated it would just continue. He noted the original plat of the development showed a boat ramp at that location.

Thomas said residents of Lake Ellen Estates who are not on the lakefront should get together and file a lawsuit to get a judge to determine if they have rights to access the lake.

The county used the same theory of right-of-way on a public road to build a boat ramp on Blue Dolphin Drive in Oyster Bay, near Shell Point.

But that ramp was also constructed on private land and maintenance by the county was abandoned – it was on a canal that is privately owned and the county’s right-of-way did not extend to the water. That boat ramp has signage that it is private and warns that vehicles parked on the right-of-way will be towed.

Property owners on Lake Ellen own to the bottom of the lake and are taxed on it, which makes it private, the landowners contend. The land was part of the Forbes Purchase and predates Florida statehood.

A memo in the county commission’s agenda packet notes that the question of whether the lake is private or if the dedication of Lake Ellen Drive gives the public a right to access has not been determined by a court.

At the Oct. 5 meeting, Commissioner Josh Lawhon asked if that portion of Lake Ellen Drive could be abandoned? The only property owners on that part of the dirt road are Fults and Joe Avara, both of whom have opposed the boat ramp.

County Attorney Heather Encinosa said abandonment of the road by the county is “Up to the property owners.”

Several area residents have complained about drinking and drugs at the ramp.

A recent visit to the area by the Wakulla Sun showed a barricade across the ramp and numerous signs warning visitors to “Keep out” and “No trespassing.” There were also numerous security cameras covering the lake front and road.

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.

A new library has been in the works for years, with various plans and iterations discussed. The new library is actually smaller than the old library – but it feels bigger with its airy design and layout.
To mark the occasion, the Quilting Guild’s Hazel Walker presented Oaks and the library with a new quilt with a literary theme: “Once upon a time/in a faraway land/ there lived a…”
– William Snowden

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.”

A disciplinary report on Schilling written by City Attorney Dan Cox described the scene more vividly: “You reacted to discussions with an unprofessional explosion of anger, left the Council Chambers while budget discussions were ongoing and yelled an explicit vulgar epithet as you left the room. You later returned but repeated these actions a second time before then returning through the conculsion of the meeting.”
Cox, in that same report dated Sept. 8, also noted it was the first time in Schilling’s lengthy career with the city that she has exhibited such conduct.
Schilling sent an email to city council members apologizing for her actions, and claiming that “my role is being marginalized and disrespected by Public Works Director Seth Green. It is my belief that he does this because I am a woman. He does not treat any male employees this way.”
Cox wrote of Schilling’s apology that she was attempting to deflect blame for her actions onto Green.
Cox and Sopchoppy Mayor Leonard Tartt held a meeting with Schilling to discuss discipline, and in the line for Schilling’s signature is written: “Refused to sign.”
The disciplinary report is notable in that it is marked “CONFIDENTIAL FOR CITY COUNCIL EYES ONLY” – which would appear to be not in keeping with requirements of Florida Public Records Law.
The Wakulla Sun obtained the records through a Public Records Request that took two weeks to fulfill. An intial request for records was filed on Sept. 16, and a week later a subsequent email was sent to Cox again requesting the records and indicating the newspaper was prepared to take legal action to obtain them.
Cox hand-delivered the public records at a city meeting held on Tuesday, Sept. 29.
The tranche of records includes emails from several city council members to Cox reacting to events.
Council member Nathan Lewis wrote that he didn’t believe Green had brought any issues to him that has minimized Schilling, her role or its importance. Rather, he wrote, “It is not that her comments have been incorrect or unwanted, but that they often come off as confrontational.”
Council member Lara Edwards wrote that Schilling’s apology was insufficient and should be addressed by the entire council at their next meeting.
At that next council meeting, on Sept. 14, Edwards attempted to bring up the issue and was quickly shut down by Cox and the meeting was abruptly ajourned, according to Sun Correspondent Linda Ann McDonald.
A letter from Cox to Schilling dated Sept. 14 and hand-delivered to her, lays out the process for appealing disciplinary action.
On Sept. 21, Schilling responded with an email to city council members that she is formally appealing the disciplinary action and is being represented by Tallahassee attorney Tiffany Cruz.
In the email, Schilling writes that she takes responsibility for her actions at the Aug. 31 budget workshop. “My frustration stemmed from feeling overlooked and dismissed on matters tied to my role as City Clerk. Accepting responsibility for my reaction is not the same as agreeing that my underlying concerns were unfounded.”
Schilling also poses numerous questions in her email, including asking who initiated the disciplinary action and requested the disciplinary report be prepared? and if the city council collectively consulted or was involved in reaching the decision before the report was presented to her.
A city council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 29, Schilling’s husband, John, went to the speaker’s lectern to ask why the proposed discipline of the city clerk was not brought up, and questioning if it needed to be voted on by the full commission.
Cox didn’t answer directly, but repeated that the matter was being appealed.
Schilling’s mother, Martha Hodge Evans, a former Sopchoppy city council member who had to resign from the council when her daughter was promoted to city clerk because of potential conflict of interest, filmed the meeting on a cell phone and tripod.
A controversial issue at the meeting was a proposal by some city council members to outsource payroll and Human Resources.
Prior to the meeting, John Schilling posted on Facebook that the goal was to remove responsibilities of the city clerk as part of the goal of firing her.
Ashley Schilling and Public Works Director Seth Green declined to comment for this story.

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN Editor

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

Republican Carrie Hughes, Democrat Beverly Keister and independent Patricia Dyszer were at the forum, held at the Chamber of Commerce offices in the old courthouse, hosted by The Wakulla Sun.

The three candidates were all in agreement that the county commission has allowed too much growth and lost touch with citizens.

Hughes has worked in growth management with the City of Tallahassee for years.

Keister is a certified public accountant who has worked at several firms, including in Atlanta.

Dyszer was a flight attendant for several years, who said she felt a calling from God to run for office and serve the county.

One question asked if the candidates believe Wakulla has been negatively impacted by overdevelopment and, if so, what they would do to slow down growth. Or if they believe overdevelopment

Dyszer said the overdevelopment is obvious in infrastructure needs and traffic issues. “So I would slow the development down right now until we get our problems corrected.”

Hughes said she also believed there are problems with overdevelopment and pointed to traffic on 319. She also pointed to a person appearing at a county commission meeting talking about the “potential for flooding another home with some of the stuff we’re doing” – apparently referring to former Commissioner Chuck Hess speaking during the Citizens to Be Heard about a home site on Emmett Whaley Road that has brought in loads of fill dirt to fill a low-lying area where water goes during heavy rain events. Hess warned the activity could cause flooding of neighboring homes.

Hughes said the problem isn’t growth, but growth without a better plan than what the county currently has in place.

Keister agreed that the county has been negatively impacted by growth. She said the county comp plan should be followed with the goal of keeping the county as beautiful as possible.

Asked about what represents responsible growth, Hughes said the comp plan needs to be followed, but “every time you turn around there’s another comp plan amendment and we’re moving the boundary of where the urban area is.”

Keister said the strength of the county was small business and she would focus her efforts at attracting businesses that would offer jobs.

Dyszer said she would work to preserve the way the county is now.

Asked who should pay for the cost of additional services from growth, Keister responded that developers should pay.

“Developers need tobe prepared to pay their fair share” for development, Keister said.

Dyszer said as developers are making profits, they should bear the costs of services.

“Right now, everything’s on the taxpayer,” Hughes said.

All three indicated support of imposing impact fees on development.

From Front Page

Dyszer said she would work to preserve the way the county is now.

Asked who should pay for the cost of additional services from growth, Keister responded that developers should pay.

“Developers need to be prepared to pay their fair share” for development, Keister said.

Dyszer said as developers are making profits, they should bear the costs of services.

“Right now, everything’s on the taxpayer,” Hughes said.

All three indicated support of imposing impact fees on development.

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

At the meeting on Monday, Sept. 21, Commissioner Fred Nichols made the motion to approve the change, and Commissioner Valerie Russell seconded. It was Russell who initially brought the issue of preventing data centers from being built locally, citing the high use of electricity and potential contamination of Wakulla Springs or the aquifer in general due to heavy water usage.

Officially, the language is the county’s Land Development Code to prohibit data centers within the unincorporated areas of the county.

Citizens backed the commission chambers at a meeting back in June when the issue was first discussed in support of a ban.

Wakulla joins Jackson County in prohibiting the centers, as other counties – including Citrus, Hernando, Nassau and Pasco counties – are adopting moratoriums.

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).

Head Coach Derek Allen Jr. credited the Bulldogs with controlling the lock in the first half, with the War Eagles only having four possessions. Wakulla got to the goal line early in the game but only scored once.
Even with the win, Allen said he wasn’t satisfied, saying he felt his team was better than the Bulldogs that 37-7 should have been the score in the first half.
Overall Player of the Week Demarkus Roberts had a great game: three interceptions on defense and a touchdown reception. Roberts is tied for the most interceptions in the state with six.
Offensive Player of the Week Armon Lindsey rushed for two touchdowns.
Defensive Player of the Week Antonio Harvey had a terrific game as defensive end, constantly pressuring the quarterback and coming up with a number of sacks.

On Special Teams, Ced Hicks was Player of the Week with a blocked punt.
Other standouts included quarterback Jaylen Jones who was 5 of 6 passing for 96 yards and a touchdown.
Running back Danny Godbolt had seven carries for 137 yards.
And the War Eagle running game had 41 carries for 367 yards.
Suwannee scored its only points midway through the first quarter on a tipped pass that the receiver caught and went in for the touchdown. Extra point put the Bulldogs up 7-0.
Wakulla came back with a drive down to the Suwannee 4 and then Bryce Manning took it in from there. The War Eagles went for 2 but came up short.
The second quarter was scoreless, but Demarkus Roberts got his first pick of the game on a trick play by the Bulldogs, quarterback backwards toss to halfback for a pass: the Bulldog receiver looked open, but Roberts has outstanding closing speed and made the catch with the ball against his helmet.
Halftime: Suwannee 7, Wakulla 6.
Suwannee took the second half kickoff out to their 25, but then the Wakulla defense got tough and the Bulldogs were going backwards. Punt blocked by Ced Hicks, Wakulla ball at 20.
Roberts makes a great catch in the back of the end zone. Extra point puts Wakulla up 13-7.
Later in the third quarter, Roberts makes his second pick: a one-handed spinning catch.
On Suwannee’s next possession, quarterback under pressure in the end zone, throws ball away and is called for intentional grounding – which makes it a safety. Wakulla 15-7.
Jaylen Jones has a 30-yard run plus a penalty for horse collar puts the ball at the Suwannee 25. Armon Lindsey takes it to the 2, and next play in for the score. Wakulla 22-7.
In the 4th, QB Jones connected to Ryheem Moore with a toe-tap catch for a score. Go for 2. Wakulla 30-7.
Next series, Roberts comes down with his third pick on a tipped pass.
That led to an Armon Lindsey 35-yard run for a score. Final: Wakulla 37-7.

UP NEXT:
HAWTHORNE
HORNETS

The Hawthorne Hornets are 6-0 and were state champs last year. Coach Allen says they’re like Wakulla in that they’re tough, physical and play the same defense as the War Eagles.
They haven’t lost a home game since 2019.
The biggest thing for the War Eagles is not to turn the ball over. The Hornets are opportunistic and capitalize on other teams’ mistakes.

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.

At a ceremony on Monday, Sept. 21 at Wakulla Environmental Institute, plans were announced for the new Wakulla Workforce Training and Resilence Facility.

The new facility will bring together programs currently offered at the TSC Wakulla Center and expand training in high-demand fields, including healthcare, education, environmental sciences, marine service technologies, construction trades, and more.

Funding for the project, includes more than $17 million in federal funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration through the 2025 Disaster Supplemental Grant Program and more than $10 million from Triumph Gulf Coast. An additional $266,000 was raised by the college’s foundation.

Christian Caban, chair of the TSC Board of Trustees, said it is “the largest capital project that TSC has undertaken in Wakulla County,” which drew applause from the crowd of about 50 people in attendance.

Shelly Bell, Vice President for Workforce Development at TSC, noted that in addition to workforce training, the design of the building will allow it to serve as a hurricane shelter up to a Category 3 hurricane.

The two-story building will feature classrooms, specialized laboratories, a healthcare simulation center, conference and community meeting spaces, and advanced instructional technology.

Dr. Henry Mack, Education Commissioner, called the planned facility a “life-transforming opportunity” for Wakulla residents, and noted efforts by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration to fund job training without student loans for short-term career and technical education programs.

Jim Murdaugh, president of TSC, bestowed special credit on TSC’s Vice President for Workforce Development and Brendie Hawkins of the college’s grants department for the project.

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.

Berneil Pinder, 51, a police superintendent with the Royal Bahamian Police, was off-duty when he shot Cody Castillo, 31, in his truck. Pinder reportedly initially claimed that Castillo had driven towards him in the truck, but a dash cam inside the truck did not show that.
Castillo was from Wakulla and working as a lineman for the Pike Corporation in the Bahamas.
Castillo and other crewmates were eating dinner at Da Plantation Bar and Grill and watching a soccer match when a disturbance began.
After being charged with murder, Pinder was released on $30,000 bond in June with conditions that he wear an ankle monitor and check in with the court three times a week.
Castillo’s death came as he and wife Makayla were to celebrate their first weddding anniversary. She gave birth to their son recently.

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.

A fourth aircraft crashed in an empty field in Pennsylvania after passengers fought the hijackers. The sheriff’s office ceremony began at 8:30 a.m., the time the first aircraft crashed into one of the towers at the World Trade Center. Above, the sheriff’s office Color Guard lower the flag. At right, students were among the attendees.

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.

An intense manhunt was underway for a couple of weeks until U.S. Marshals and Mexican police captured him on Aug. 13 in Mexico, across the border from Brownsville, Texas.
He was taken to Hidalgo County, Texas, and waived extradition when given a court appearance some days later.
Capt. Brett Surace, public information officer for the sheriff’s office, said Raker was transported by contract agents from Texas to Wakulla.
He was booked into the Wakulla County Jail on Saturday. Surace told The Sun he believed Raker was given a first appearance on the murder charges on Sunday, but the Labor Day holiday made it difficult to confirm.
So far, the sheriff’s office has released no information about the motive in the murders.
In announcing Raker’s capture on Aug. 13, Sheriff Jared Miller anticipated more arrests for those who may have aided Raker in covering up the crime or fleeing from Wakulla.
In a video made by the sheriff’s office and posted to Facebook back in the first week of August, Major Eddie Wester of Criminal Investigations said that an intoxicated person came forward telling deputies that people had been shot at Otter Creek.
Deputies went to the scene, found signs of struggle, and called for a warrant to search. Eventually, two bodies were found on neighboring refuge property hidden by underbrush.