COUNTY BIRDERS HAVE ‘BIG DAY’ A10 CELEBRATING 130 YEARS AS YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER Thursday, May 16, 2019 apalachtimes.com @ApalachTimes facebook.com/Apalachtimes 50¢ OUT TO SEE Riverkeeper hosts Paramedic with a past booksigning tonight Apalachicola River- License had been CEO H.D. indication of such behavior keeper and the Gallery at suspended in Michigan Canning- in his past or he would never High Cotton are co-host- for a similiar off ense ton issued a have been hired. ing an author talk and book statement. “We did not know he had signing on Thursday, May By David Adlerstein Canning- ever worked in Michigan, 16, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., at The Apalachicola Times ton said a or he was ever licensed in the Gallery at 230 Water [email protected] Major criminal Michigan,” Cannington Legislature St. 850-653-8894 background said. “He did not disclose “Florida’s Changing check through the Flor- that.” Waters: A Beautiful World On April 24, a day after ida Department of Law The CEO said the hospi- silent in Peril,” is a 232-page a Weems paramedic was Enforcement conducted on tal relied on references for book of photographs by arrested on charges he Robert E. Lee Major, prior Major from DeKalb County on city Lynne Buchanan. It con- touched a patient inappro- to his Sept. 3, 2018 hiring, EMS, in Fort Payne, in tains her remarks, as well priately during a transport, “did not indicate a crimi- requests as essays and comments by Weems Memorial Hospital nal record, and we had no See PAST, A6 leading water experts and scientists. The Apalachic- By David Adlerstein ola River is prominently The Apalachicola Times featured in this photogra- [email protected] phy collection. 850-653-8894 Downtown Books in Apalachicola is carry- The city of Apalachicola’s ing this newly-published try at securing monies from photography classic. To the Florida Legislature for a purchase a book at the variety of water and sewer event, attendees may needs did not fare well in the pay with cash or with recent session. checks payable to Down- But another arrow in its town Books. Snacks and quiver, a $1.7 million federal refreshments will be funding package for drink- served. ing water improvements, in a done deal. ANERR presents Funds were obligated on fl oodplain class Friday April 19, and they are begin- ning the process for bringing The Apalachicola in bond counsel, said She- National Estuarine Neena Forbes, area specialist Research Reserve will in Marianna for U.S. Depart- present a River & Flood- ment of Agriculture rural plain Class on Friday, May development. 17 from 12:30 to 4 p.m. The funds, comprised of Participants will learn a $1.23 million grant and a about the ecology, cul- $474,000 long-term low- ture, and history of the interest loan will fund the Apalachicola River and installation of a carbon fil- floodplain. After the in- tration system, required by class portion, participants the Florida Department of will embark on a journey Environmental Protection, up the river aboard the to bring down levels of trih- ANERR research vessel alomethanes, a byproduct of Henry Lee to get an up- Mayor Van Johnson shakes hands with President Trump. chlorination, in the municipal close look at the floodplain [OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE PHOTO BY JOYCE N. BOGHOSIAN] water. ecosystems. The city also had its eye on Tickets for the class are securing millions for water $25 and must be purchased and sewer improvements in advance by visiting Mayor meets the President from the Florida Legislature, tinyurl.com/yyc4247j. Or including a 10-year, $20 mil- call 670-7719. lion annual appropriation By David Adlerstein and a group of Panhandle Michael from Air Force from land acquisition monies Brewer to speak on The Apalachicola Times mayors, Cong. Dunn, U.S. personnel, a chance for the based on the city’s status squares Saturday [email protected] Sens. Rubio and Scott, Gov. politicians to talk amongst as an Area of Critical State 850-653-8894 DeSantis and his wife, and themselves, and then of Concern. The Apalachicola Area other officials. course photos, with Mr. “This Stewardship Act had Historical Society will When President Trump Next, the president toured Trump, front and center, issues with language and most present Diane Brewer stepped on to the tarmac the base, he and his entou- flipping a thumbs-up before of the environmental com- on Saturday, May 18 at 4 after Air Force One landed rage in a limo, Johnson and heading off to a massively munity were against taking p.m. at the Raney House, at Tyndall Air Force Base the rest of the politicians on popular rally in Panama City it from the pot of money we speaking on Apalachicola’s last week, he greeted with a bus in the convoy. Beach. had,” said the city’s lobbyist squares. This is the third of a handshake Apalachic- Lastly, it was time for a a series on topics of his- ola Mayor Van Johnson short briefing on Hurricane See TRUMP, A6 See LOAN, A13 toric significance. There is no charge although a free will offering will be gratefully accepted. Light refreshments will be served. Alligator Point Drive won't be moving Graduation week starts Sunday By David Adlerstein by FCMC, which is the com- property owners.” and FEMA met with Florida The Apalachicola Times pany run by the private sector The statement said the Department of Environmen- The baccalaureate [email protected] consultant Frank C. McColm; county will not try to expand tal Protection where DEP service for the Franklin 850-653-8894 officials with the Federal or improve the temporary gave its blessing to allow the County High School Class Emergency Management road, since a permanent road county to build a permanent of 2019, which is planned Alligator Drive is going to Agency and Pierce. would interfere. road in the current right of by parents, will be this be rebuilt within the next “Franklin County will Pierce said the time line way, if the county could com- Sunday, May 19 at 6 p.m. year, but it won't be relocated rebuild a permanent road in calls for a contractor to be plete the project by April. at the Eastpoint Church away from the water. its current right of way by in place by August, with “While the county will con- of God. In a report to the county April 2020,” read the state- that company responsible tinue to seek land for future The school is planning commission May 7, former ment. “The county will for maintaining traffic flow public uses, including a pos- for Senior Recognition County Planner Alan Pierce, continue to seek to acquire through the construction sible relocation of the road, Night this Tuesday, May 21 who has been working as liai- properties on Alligator Point zone. FEMA personnel said at the time it will take to com- at Franklin County School. son with FEMA and Restore through a hazard mitigation the meeting that they would plete those acquisitions could Graduation is Friday, May Act officials, provided an grant program application not pay to maintain a tempo- take years, all the while the 24 at 7 p.m., in the school’s April 24 formal joint state- that allows for the volun- rary road. gymnasium ment that had been drafted tary sale of property by the Earlier last month, McColm See ROAD, A13 Volume 134 Number 4 Law Enforcement .........A2 Faith ........................ A9 A2 A11 Phone: 850-653-8868 Opinion .................... A4 Outdoors .................. A10 Fire destroys Carrabelle Lady Hawks ousted at Fax: 850-653-8893 Society .......................A8 Sports.......................A11 family home regionals * ** A2 Thursday, May 16, 2019 | The Times FWC REPORT Attorney general praises During the week of April significant amount of reef waters south of Franklin 26 through May 2, Florida fish being used for bait and County. During one stop law enforcement Fish and Wildlife Con- that the vessel exceeded 24 miles offshore, officers servation Commission the 750 "rigged for fishing" located multiple gag grou- On May 8, at Half Shell Officers Hughes, McLeod, hook count allowed in the per during federal closure. Dockside at Scipio Creek and Swindell were target- restricted area. The appro- During another stop 12 Marina in Apalachicola, ing illegal night harvest of priate action was taken for miles offshore, officers the Franklin County oysters from the Apala- the violations. located multiple red snap- Sheriff’s Office hosted a chicola Bay. They located a While aboard the offshore per hidden in a soft cooler law enforcement appre- truck with an empty trailer patrol vessel Guardian, bag. Appropriate action was ciation luncheon for at the Old Ferry Dock Boat Marlow, and Officers Boyd taken for the violations. members of its staff. Ramp, and from a con- and Nelson boarded a recre- While aboard the Guard- Special guests, Florida cealed location, waited for ational vessel approximately ian, Marlow and Officers Attorney General Ashley the boat to return. After a 13 miles south of Franklin Boyd and B. Hughes Moody and Florida Sher- couple hours, they heard a County in federal waters. boarded a commercial iffs Association Director boat approaching, stopped During the approach, bandit rig vessel approxi- Steve Casey, both spoke [ PHOTO COURTESY FCSO ] the vessel and found the one of the occupants was mately 62 miles southeast at the luncheon. Pic- operator in possession of opening a compartment of Carrabelle. During tured, in photo, are from Franklin County Sheriff Harrison and Wakulla freshly caught oysters. and leaning over the side of the stop, officers located left, Calhoun County AJ Smith, Moody, Gulf County Sheriff Jared The subject admitted to the vessel.