Kyler Jones, a student at Wakulla High School, was 16 years old
By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor
KylerJones, the 16-year-old son of Kyle and Susan Jones, died in a diving accident on Friday, July 3.
Read More …Jones son dies in diving accident
Author: William Snowden
America 250! and the time capsule was a great community event
By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor
What an exciting event last week’s America 250! time capsule event was!
The courthouse grounds were jammed on Thursday, July 2 with people interested in the digging up of the capsule buried in 1976 – and the one being buried to be exhumed in 2076.
I thought the most unexpected item in the 1976 time capsule was a poster of The Fonz from the Happy Days TV show.
School board, COAST settle
The St. Marks charter school submits new application, pays district’s legal fees
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
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
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.
Read More …Board votes to prohibit AI data centers
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
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
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.
Read More …Qualifying ends; candidates set for races
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
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.