Makena Glassner wins district bee

She won Friday’s spelling bee with the winning word ‘Catalyst’

District Spelling Bee winner Makena Glassner with Superintendent Rick Myhre and runner-up Siris McKenzie.

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor

Makena Glassner, an 8th grader at Riversprings Middle, won the district-wide spelling bee on Friday with the word “Catalyst.”
Runner-up is Siris McKenzie, an 8th grader at Wakulla Middle.

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Students perform at All-State

Students Bradley McGuffey, Tate Glass, Jeremiah Dissmore and band director Matthew Spindler were in Tampa last week and the students performed on Saturday at the Tampa Convention Center.
Bradley and Tate performed in the All-State Concert Band which consists of 9-10th grade students from Florida. Jeremiah performed in the All-State Symphonic Band which consisted of 11-12th grade students from Florida!

New Chamber officers, board for 2026 is sworn-in

New officers and board members for the Wakulla Chamber of Commerce were sworn-in on Tuesday, Jan. 13, by Wakulla County Judge Brian Miller. The meeting was held at Wakulla High School’s new vocational wing where culinary arts students served breakfast. The new officers, seated, are Tonya James, Katie Taff, Niraj Patel, Megan Smith, Frank Messersmith and Jessica Revell. (Photo by Heather Bryan of the Chamber)

St. Marks holds workshop on closing Wakulla Street

Story By
LINDA ANN McDONALD

Correspondent

The City of St. Marks held a workshop last week to ask the public for feedback and direction regarding growing concerns about Wakulla Street.
Wakulla Street is an undeveloped road with residential homes on one side and 18 city owned platted lots on the other side. The issue was discussed at a workshop at the St. Marks Yacht Club on Thursday, Jan. 15.

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Natalie Brattain, Wakulla student at Embry-Riddle, named outstanding aerospace student

Natalie Brattain working in a lab in the College of Arts and Sciences on April 25, 2025. (Bernard Wilchusky/Embry-Riddle)

Special to The Sun

Wakulla County native Natalie Brattain has been named to the Aviation Week Network 20 Twenties Class of 2026, which recognizes outstanding aerospace-focused university students. Aviation Week, the leading source for aerospace news, recognized Natalie, who is a senior majoring in Aerospace Physiology, for her research to design ways to protect astronaut health.

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Crawfordville Arbor Day Celebration breaks records

Jeff and Casey Tirums, above, with trees.
(Photo by Claudia Ferren)

By LYNN ARTZ

The 22nd annual Crawfordville Arbor Day Celebration was the grandest yet. More than 1,000 people signed in or received a ticket to each get a free tree on Saturday, Jan. 17.
At least 2,000 native trees found homes. With grant funding from the National Wildlife Federation, the Wakulla County Garden Club gave away nearly 900 trees in 1-gallon pots. The Florida Forest Service provided 130 pot-grown trees along with 1,000 pine seedlings. Two Florida Native Plant Society Chapters also contributed trees.

Conner and Rodney Howe with a Rusty Blackhaw (Photo by Claudia Ferren)
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