Oyster Radio

Saturday, March 22, 2025

FWC to host series of virtual public meetings on highly regulated bear hunting proposals

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is holding a series of virtual public meetings to collect feedback directly from Florida residents on proposals for highly regulated black bear hunting in Florida that will be presented to Commissioners at our May meeting. The FWC met with stakeholder groups and the public in March to collect their comments on potential options for highly regulated bear hunting seasons, and those comments were used to inform the hunting proposals. The content covered in all meetings is identical, and it is not necessary to attend more than one virtual public meeting.

The meeting dates and times are as follows:

April 2 from 12-3 p.m. EDT: Virtual meeting via Zoom
April 3 from 5-8 p.m. EDT: Virtual meeting via Zoom
April 5 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. EDT: Virtual meeting via Zoom

At the Dec. 2024 Commission Meeting, the FWC's Bear Management Program gave Commissioners a 5-year update on implementing the 2019 Florida Black Bear Management Plan, highlighting recent bear management and research efforts. Following the presentation, the Commissioners directed staff to return to a future Commission meeting to propose options for implementing a potential bear hunt.

For more information, visit MyFWC.com/Hunting and click on “Florida black bear.”

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The Florida Department of Health in Franklin County has issued a water quality advisory for Carrabelle Beach

The Florida Department of Health in Franklin County has issued a water quality advisory for Carrabelle Beach.

Tests completed on March 20th found high levels of the enterococcus bacteria in water samples.

This advisory will continue until bacteria levels are below the accepted health level.

Until then it is recommended that people not swim at Carrabelle beach.

This is the second time this month that Carrabelle beach has faced water quality issues; the first was on March the 3rd.

The state currently takes weekly or bi-weekly water samples from beaches in 30 counties – you can see results for all beaches in Florida on-line at the Florida Department of Health healthy beaches website.

https://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/beach-water-quality/index.html

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Friday, March 21, 2025

FDLE, Franklin County SO arrest Apalachicola man for organized fraud

Public Information Office

2:56 PM (0 minutes ago)

to Public

FDLE, Franklin County SO arrest Apalachicola man for organized fraud

Suspect arrested earlier this year for possession of child sexual abuse material

For Immediate Release

March 21, 2025

APALACHICOLA, Fla. – The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) arrested Patrick Alan Kelly, 60, of Apalachicola for organized fraud. Kelly stole more than $32,000 from a local restaurant, his former employer.

FDLE Tallahassee Special Agent in Charge Keith Wilmer said, “I am proud of the work FDLE’s agents and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office’s put into this investigation. It’s shameful for a person of trust working for a local business to victimize their employer. Crime against businesses not only hurt businessowners, they also hurt patrons and the community.”

Franklin County Sheriff AJ “Tony” Smith said, “We appreciate the partnership with FDLE and their assistance with this case. This partnership is especially important when investigating very complex financial crimes that require specialized expertise and resources.”

The investigation began in January when FCSO requested FDLE to assist in an embezzlement investigation. The restaurant’s owner reported to law enforcement that Kelly was the business’s manager until December 2024. Kelly abruptly resigned after being questioned about why several of the restaurant’s business checks were written out for “cash.”

Through investigative, forensic and analytical activities, at least 43 checks totaling $32,318 that were written to “cash” were determined to have been signed and endorsed by Kelly.

Kelly was arrested on March 20 in Tallahassee. He was booked into the Leon County Jail without bond. The case will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, Second Judicial Circuit.

The investigation is being conducted by the FDLE Tallahassee office and FCSO. The Florida Highway Patrol assisted with the arrest. FDLE and FSCO previously arrested Kelly in January for possession of child sexual abuse material. The organized fraud investigation remains active.

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Fun things to do in Gulf County and beyond!

The 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗱 will be Saturday - March 22 - starting at noon ET on Reid Avenue, in the heart of downtown:

Noon-1:10 pm - Finga F A Y A

1:30-2:40 pm - Roger Hurricane Wilson

3-4:10 pm - John Bull Trio

4:30-5:40 pm - Meg Williams Trio

6-7:30 pm - The Shaelyn Band

***All times are Eastern

Coming Soon to Port St Joe, Florida

Join us for a celebration of local art, live music, vendor shopping, and fun activities for the entire family on April 5, 2025 at George Core Park (Lighthouse Park). This event is free to the public.

Learn More Here:

https://mermaidbayfestival.com/