How Mobile Response Teams alleviate mental health crises

Posted onAuthorSpecial to The Sun

By JOSHUA PRATER
Special to The Sun

“I don’t know what to do,” the 17-year-old boy muttered over the phone. “I know that I don’t feel safe, but I don’t know how I’ll live without her.”
I was familiar with the young caller and knew he lives with bipolar disorder. This was not his first time calling MRT; he called frequently at night, but this time was noticeably different.
Through the boy’s fear-filled voice, I knew he needed someone to talk to, someone he could trust. That’s my role as a Mobile Response Team (MRT) counselor for Apalachee Center.

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Wakulla finishes regular season strong

Posted onAuthorSpecial to The Sun

Brady Jackson vs David Moen. WRESTLING PHOTOS BY JENNIFER THAXTON

By WALT JACOBS
Correspondent

The Wakulla wrestling team closed out their regular season at the Ippolito Memorial Tournament held at Brandon High School. The War Eagles had a strong showing despite missing four wrestlers from their roster. No. 9 Brandon (2A) won the tournament with 274.5 points, followed by No. 7 Harmony (3A) with 200 points, No. 7 Aubrey Rogers (1A) in third, with 183 points, and Wakulla with 182.5 points for a fourth place finish.

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Sopchoppy Opry ends its run

Posted onAuthorLinda Ann McDonald

After 25 years, the Opry will no longer have regular shows

The Opry’s house band, Southbound: Reggie Bradley, Lamar Brock, Larry Bullock, Johnny Calloway, Wayne Martin, Jay Newsome and Ashton Evans.

Story By
LINDA ANN McDONALD
Photos by
GERALD BROWN

The Sopchoppy Opry performed its last scheduled performance to a huge audience in the Historic Sopchoppy High School Auditorium, on Saturday, January 30th, proving it will always be “The little Opry that could.”
After almost 26 years and over 300 shows later, the Sopchoppy Opry is no longer maintaining its last Saturday of the month scheduled performances.

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Deputy agrees to deferred prosecution

Posted onAuthorWilliam Snowden

Deputy Don Newsome was charged with supplying information to then-commissioner Mike Kemp

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor

Wakulla Sheriff’s Deputy Don Newsome entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the state on Jan. 23 – meaning the felony charges against him will be dropped if he has no new law offenses.
As part of the deal, Newsome must also testify against former County Commissioner Mike Kemp, whose case is set for trial in March.

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Empty Bowls held

Posted onAuthorGerald Brown

Becky Whaley, Petra Shuff, Dr. Christopher Mrofchak, Ryan Warner, Principal Michele Falk, Sherrie Posey, and Emily Strickland. (Photos by Gerald Brown)

An Empty Bowls event was held on Thursday at Wakulla High School to raise money for Wakulla Giving Hands. Music, culinary, and art teachers collaborated with volunteers to make soup as well as handmade bowls.

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Cold-stunned turtles treated at Gulf Specimen

Posted onAuthorWilliam Snowden

Jack Rudloe of Gulf Specimen with Allen Foley, an FWC wildlife biologist, inside a tent with tanks set up to treat cold-stunned sea turtles.

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor

Dozens of people were set up on Thursday to receive the incoming sea turtles – 25 had been cold-stunned by the icy temperatures and picked up from St. Joseph Bay in Gulf County and brought to Gulf Specimen Marine Lab in Panacea for treatment.

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Sopchoppy man pleads guilty to federal charges of armed trafficking of methamphetamine

Posted onAuthorSpecial to The Sun

Howard Neil Martin

From U.S. Attorney’s Office

Howard Neil Martin, 46, of Sopchoppy, pleaded guilty in federal court to three counts: possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking offense; and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

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