Commissioners packet for May 21st Franklin County Commission meeting

  May 21, 2013

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments http://live.oysterradio.com/

Wed, 5/22/13 SEAHAWK SCOOP

  bulletin.5.22.13

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments http://live.oysterradio.com/

Gulf Council Seeks Applicants for Panels and Committees

For Immediate Release May 21, 2013      Gulf Council Seeks Applicants for Panels and Committees  Reminder to interested parties that the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is recruiting applicants for the following panels and committees: Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) Advisory Panel Special Coral Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) Special Mackerel SSC Coral Advisory Panel SEDAR Workshop Pool  Membership provides individuals with an opportunity to become more directly involved in the management decision-making process. Anyone interested in serving should submit a letter of interest to the Council office indicating the committee and/or panel of interest. Please include a current resumé or description of qualifications. Letters of interest should be mailed to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 N. Lois Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33607; faxed to: 813-348-1711; or e-mailed to: AP-SSC.Applicant@gulfcouncil.org by June 7, 2013. The SEDAR Advisory Panel is comprised of stakeholders interested in contributing to fisheries stock assessments.  Members include recreational and commercial fishermen, seafood dealers and processors, non-governmental organizations, and concerned citizens. Individual members are then selected to participate in the data and/or assessment workshops through contributions of pertinent data and/or quantitative analyses. SSCs are comprised of economists, biologists, sociologists, and natural resource attorneys who are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of fisheries in the Gulf. SSCs are charged in the reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) with developing, evaluating, and peer reviewing technical aspects of council documents. Advisory Panel members provide information and guidance to the Council on the development of federal fishery management plans. Panels are comprised of individuals who are engaged in the harvest of federally managed species, or who are knowledgeable and interested in the conservation and management of the fishery. Members include recreational and commercial fishermen, seafood dealers and processors, nongovernmental organizations, scientists, and concerned citizens. The SEDAR Workshop Pool is comprised of scientists interested in contributing to fisheries stock assessments. Individual members are then selected to participate in the data and/or assessment workshops through contributions of pertinent data and/or quantitative analyses. Appointments are for two years and will be made during the June 17 - 21, 2013 Council meeting in Pensacola, Florida. Advisory Panel positions are unpaid, but travel expenses are reimbursed. SSC members who are not state or federal employees will receive a stipend for attendance at meetings of the SSC, SEDAR, or to give presentations to the Council on behalf of the SSC, as authorized by the Council. Depending upon the level of activity for a given fishery management plan, each panel or committee may meet from zero to 4 times per year. About Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional Fishery Management Councils established by the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. The Council prepares fishery management plans, which are designed to manage fishery resources within the 200-mile limit of the Gulf of Mexico.        The Gulf Council has an APP for that - Download it for free!           iPhone         Droid Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Charlene Ponce Public Information Officer 888-833-1844 ext. 229

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments http://live.oysterradio.com/

Journeys to hold kayak and stand up paddleboard demo days on Saturday

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments http://live.oysterradio.com/

Port St. Joe man killed in single vehicle accident between Eastpoint and Carrabelle Tuesday morning

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments http://live.oysterradio.com/

"Click it or ticket" campaign in effect through June 2nd

The Click it or Ticket seat belt campaign is being held this week, so Buckle your seat belts while your driving, or you could be looking at a ticket.

In an effort to get residents and visitors of Florida to Buckle up – local, state and national law enforcement officers are taking part in the national Click It or Ticket safety belt enforcement campaign that kicked off Monday and ends June 2nd.

During the campaign, Officers will crack down on people who are not using their seat belts.

Florida law requires all drivers and occupants in the front seat of a vehicle to fasten their safety belts. 

Occupants under the age of 18, regardless of where they sit in a vehicle, also must buckle up. 

Tickets for not buckling up are usually about 50 dollars, though they can be higher depending on the county in which you’re stopped.

So remember, buckle up, or don't be surprised if you're pulled over and ticketed if you don't.

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments http://live.oysterradio.com/

Governor signs state budget after removing some area projects

Florida Governor Rick Scott signed Florida’s 74 billion dollar budget on Monday but not before vetoing $368 million in spending, including a few projects from our area.

Even with the vetoes, the 2013-2014 budget is still the largest on record, and includes $480 million for teacher pay raises, $8.5 billion for transportation projects, $151.8 million for Everglades restoration and $273 million for ports.

But items that were cut from the budget include 2 million dollars to repay bank loans for the Port St. Joe Port Authority.

The governor also vetoed a 100 thousand dollar request for a sheriff’s administrative building in Liberty county, and a 472 thousand dollar line item to replace a water main along state Road 20 in Blountstown.

A 14 million dollar line item to construct a Science, technology, Engineering and Mathematics building at the main campus of Gulf Coast State College in Panama City was also vetoed.

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments http://live.oysterradio.com/

Forecasters expect busy hurricane season

            Weather forecasters are expecting another active hurricane season this year.

AccuWeather.com's long-range team is predicting 16 named tropical storms, eight hurricanes and four major hurricanes for the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season.

Of these, three are predicted to make landfall in the United States.

The normal number of named tropical storms in a given year is 12, according to NOAA.

The group believes the season could begin quickly this year with storm development in the Caribbean in June and believe we could see more strong storms this year.

The biggest concerns for the upcoming season include development in the Gulf of Mexico, an impact in Florida and also another East Coast impact.

The group points out that Florida is long overdue for a direct hurricane hit.

Though the sunshine state has been impacted by named tropical storms in the last couple of years, a direct hit by a hurricane has not occurred since Hurricane Wilma in 2005.

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments http://oysterradio.listen2myradio.com/

Tues, 5/21/13 SEAHAWK SCOOP

  bulletin.5.21.13

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments http://oysterradio.listen2myradio.com/

FLORIDA'S 2013 STATEWIDE HURRICANE EXERCISE UNDER WAY

FLORIDA'S 2013 STATEWIDE HURRICANE EXERCISE UNDER WAY ~Annual exercise works to prepare emergency managers for upcoming season~

TALLAHASSEE - Florida’s State Emergency Response Team (SERT) hosts the 2013 Statewide Hurricane Exercise Monday, May 20 through Thursday, May 23 at the State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee. The annual exercise serves to practice Florida’s emergency plans and procedures for a potential hurricane making landfall in the state, in preparation for the upcoming Atlantic Hurricane Season. Along with federal, local and private-sector partners, FDEM will simulate emergency response efforts to manage an evolving hurricane scenario. “Last year, Floridians were reminded of the significant impacts a tropical system can have on a community,” said Bryan W. Koon, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. “Hurricanes and tropical storms are a reality of life in Florida, and I encourage all residents and visitors to take the opportunity to review their emergency plans and disaster supply kits in preparation for the upcoming Atlantic Hurricane Season.” The 2013 Statewide Hurricane Exercise scenario centers on the potential landfall of two fictitious storms, Hurricane Kirk and Hurricane Lay. Hurricane Lay is named in honor of the late Brevard County Emergency Management Director Bob Lay, a nationally respected emergency manager. This year, the annual hurricane exercise will include participants from eleven different states and the United States Military. The exercise serves as an important opportunity to strengthen plans and relationships among local, state, federal, and private sector partners. The 2013 Atlantic Hurricane Season begins Saturday, June 1. Make sure your family and business are prepared to follow the instructions of local officials if a hurricane threatens your community by knowing the nearest shelter, making an evacuation plan and having a disaster supply kit. For more information about the 2013 Atlantic Hurricane Season in Florida, and to Get A Plan!, visit www.FloridaDisaster.org, and follow FDEM on Twitter at @FLSERT, on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/FloridaSERT andwww.Facebook.com/KidsGetAPlan.

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments http://oysterradio.listen2myradio.com/

Apalachicola Riverkeeper to hold Ice Cream Social and Summer Celebration

Ice Cream Social and Summer Celebration Please join US* in support of Apalachicola River and Bay  Join authors Doug Alderson and Michael Lister and other  Apalachicola Riverkeeper fans & Ice Cream aficionados under the oaks at Jubilee Cottage in Goodwood Museum.     RiverTrek presentation by Rob Diaz and Doug Alderson Live Acoustic music with  Cows Don't Care & The Three Brunettes Book reading & signing with Michael Lister Bay exhibit table with FSU Marine Lab Children's Haiku table Gift raffles, including a river boat ride Event Info: Sunday, June 2 2pm-6pm Donation for refreshments suggested. *Membership encouraged. Please RSVP by May 30--we sure don't want to run out of ice cream & fixin's This event is powered 100% by AR volunteers Goodwood Museum, Jubilee Cottage 1600 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee .   riverkeeper@apalachicolariverkeeper.org or 850.321.6262

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments http://oysterradio.listen2myradio.com/

Franklin County commission to consider golf cart rules for Eastpoint

County commissioners will hold a public hearing on Tuesday to discuss rules for Golf carts in Eastpoint.

Golf carts are already a popular form of transportation in Eastpoint, but for the most part they are operating illegally because the county doesn’t have any rules in place governing their use.

That may soon change.

The county has looked at rules for golf cart operation that are already in place in Apalachicola and St. George Island and now plan to create similar rules for Eastpoint.

County Administrative director Alan Pierce said he believes that county will be able to allow golf carts on county roads north of Highway 98 but golf carts will not be allowed to drive on or cross Highway 98.

The county commission will hold a public hearing on the issue during their regular meeting on Tuesday, May the 21st. 

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments http://oysterradio.listen2myradio.com/

Unemployment falls in April in Franklin County area

Franklin County saw another drop in unemployment in April.

Local unemployment fell from 5.3 percent to 5 percent; only 4 counties had lower unemployment rates than ours.

272 people were looking for work in Franklin County in April, down from 285 people in March.

Gulf County also saw its unemployment fall from 7.1 to 6.5 percent.

381 people were looking for work in Gulf County last month, down from 408 in March.

In Wakulla County the unemployment rate fell from 5.7 to 5.5 percent.

In Liberty County unemployment fell from 5.8 to 5.6 percent.

The Statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.2 percent.

You can see the full statewide unemployment report for yourself – it’s posted at oysterradio.com

http://oysterradio.blogspot.com/2013/05/florida-unemployment-statistics-for.html

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments http://oysterradio.listen2myradio.com/

For Immediate Release: Smoke Advisory

Gulf County, Florida – There is currently a prescribed burn in the Port St. Joe area of Gulf County. The fire is approximately 430 acres in size. Motorist may encounter smoke throughout the night in the area of US 98 and surrounding county roadways in the Port St. Joe area. 

Motorists are urged to use caution when traveling in the area. Visibility may deteriorate quickly if fog and 
smoke combine, especially at night and in the early morning hours. Motorist should also use caution in the area for forestry vehicles fighting the fire. 

Motorists in the area should drive with care, by reducing their speed, watching for advisory signs and using 
headlights on low beam in situations of reduced visibility. They also may want to consider an alternate route if 
necessary.


http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments http://oysterradio.listen2myradio.com/

Intermittent Lane Restrictions on U.S. 98 north of Port St. Joe

For Immediate Release: May 20, 2013

Donna Green, 850-330-1661donna.green@dot.state.fl.us

Intermittent Lane Restrictions on  U.S. 98 north of Port St. Joe

Chipley – Crews will perform pavement testing on U.S. 98 in Gulf County from the Gulf County Canal Bridge (George Tapper Bridge) to the new U.S. 98 alignment, west of Port St. Joe, Tuesday, May 21. Motorists can expect intermittent lane restrictions between the hours of  10 a.m. and noon (EST).

Maintenance activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to pay attention to the speed limit when traveling through the work zone.

For more Florida Department of Transportation District Three information follow us on twitter @MyFDOT_NWFL.

www.dot.state.fl.us

Consistent, Predictable, Repeatable

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments http://oysterradio.listen2myradio.com/

One killed in Wakulla County accident

One person was killed and two injured in a single vehicle accident in Wakulla County Saturday.

The highway patrol said 26 year old Robert Joe Soule of Crawfordville was killed when a Ford Explorer in which he was a passenger crashed on State road 267 at about 8:30 Saturday night.

The vehicle was traveling north on Highway 267 when the right rear tire had tread separation.

The driver lost control of the vehicle by over-steering to the right, causing the vehicle to overturn.

The driver, 23 year old Brittany Munger of Tallahassee, was thrown from the vehicle but only suffered minor injuries.

A second passenger, 19 year old Robert Mathers of Crawfordville, was seriously injured.

None of the three were wearing their seat belts.

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments http://oysterradio.listen2myradio.com/

Florida unemployment statistics for April, 2013

  Release (5)

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments http://oysterradio.listen2myradio.com/

Mon, 5/20/13 SEAHAWK SCOOP

  bulletin.5.20.13

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments http://oysterradio.listen2myradio.com/

Franklin County Humane Society Pet of the week

BROWNIE is a 5 month old long hair Chihuahua.  She is sweet and gentle
and a real snuggle bug.  She is a very little girl with an adorable under
bite.  She only weighs about 5 pounds so shouldn't go into a household
with young children because they might inadvertently hurt her by stepping
on her or dropping her.  Brownie is one of several young small breed dogs
being housed at the Adoption Center right now so come on down and spend
some time with our little dogs.

Volunteers are desperately needed to socialize all of our dogs and cats.
We are always looking for people willing to bring one of our animals into
their home to be fostered for various needs. Anytime you can spare would
be greatly appreciated.

Call Karen at 670-8417 for more details or visit the Franklin County
Humane Society at 244 State Road 65 in Eastpoint.  You may logon to the
website at www.forgottenpets.org to see more of our adoptable pets.


http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments http://oysterradio.listen2myradio.com/

Everything you ever wanted to know about oysters on May 19th, 2013

• Olympia oysters thrive again off Oregon Coast
• Oysters Approved Under Sag Harbor Village Dock as Water Quality Concerns Continue with DEC Closure of the Coves
• Study shows restored oyster reef worth its weight in nutrients
• How the Ocean Grows Its Own Medicine
• Get ready to shuck and slurp Maryland's 'Skinny Dipper'
• FRESH & LOCAL: York County vs. the Oyster Farmers
• French oyster lovers to munch on Swedish spats
• Oyster success in French Polynesia
• Let's go oyster-bar hopping!
• Oyster DIY in PEI: Where to pluck them from the ocean and shuck ’em yourself
• Oysters continue to struggle post-spill
• GROWING OYSTERS FROM HALF-SHELLS
• Selecting a Better Oyster (Part 3): Picking Parents for the Best Traits

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments http://oysterradio.listen2myradio.com/

Franklin County crime rate falls 10 percent in 2012

Franklin County’s major crime rate dropped by almost 10 percent last year according to the state’s annual crime report released this week by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

State data shows that there were 317 major criminal offenses in Franklin County last year, down from 351 in 2011.

Florida's 2012 Uniform Crime Report shows crimes reported by city and county law enforcement from January through December.

There was one murder in Franklin County last year; there were none the year before.

Franklin County also saw an increase in the number of forcible rapes from 13 to 16 and an increase in the number of burglaries from 75 to 84.

There was one robbery last year, the same as in 2011.

But Franklin County saw the number of aggravated assaults drop from 90 to 74; the number of larcenies dropped from 157 to 130 and the number of motor vehicle thefts also fell from 15 to 11.

Local police also saw a drop in the number of cases they were able to clear.

About 38 percent of local crimes were cleared in 2012, down from nearly 46 percent a year earlier.

The crime rate in Gulf County rose by nearly 30 percent last year.

There were 336 major crimes reported in Gulf County last year up from 257 the year before.

Gulf County saw increases in the number of forcible rapes and robberies.

The number of burglaries in that county also jumped from 74 to 125.

Gulf County law enforcement were able to solve nearly 33 percent of the crimes committed in that county last year – up from about 28 percent in 2011.

You can see the full Florida's 2012 Uniform Crime Report broken down by county at oysterradio.com.

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments http://oysterradio.listen2myradio.com/

Florida Taxwatch releases list of budget turkeys

The non-profit group Florida Taxwatch has released its annual list of what they call budget turkeys.

The group found 107 different items totaling nearly 107 million dollars that they said did not go through the proper procedures for funding.

Many of the items on the turkey list are projects that lawmakers inserted into the budget late in the session.

There were no projects specifically for Franklin County that made the turkey list, but the group did question some items for Gulf and Liberty counties.

Specifically they oppose a 2 million dollar request to pay bank loans for the Port St. Joe Port Authority though the group did say it would ask the governor to approve that expense if the state could get guarantees that the money would be repaid.

Florida Tax watch also questioned a 325 thousand dollars for the Cape San Blas lighthouse because it didn’t go through the proper grants process.

A100 thousand dollars line item for a Liberty County sheriff’s administration building also made the turkey list as did 400 thousand dollars for a park in Hosford.

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments http://oysterradio.listen2myradio.com/

No swimming advisories in Franklin, Gulf or Wakulla counties this week

The water in Franklin, Gulf and Wakulla counties should be fine for swimming this Weekend.

The Department of Health has issued no swimming advisories for any of the three counties.

Water samples were taken from 5 Franklin county beaches including three on St. George Island as well as Carrabelle beach and Alligator Point on May the 13^th.

Samples were last taken from Mash’s Island and Shell Point in Wakulla County beaches on May 1st and from 6 beaches in Gulf County on May the 6th.

The Florida Department of Health takes weekly or bi-weekly water samples swimming area around Florida to make sure there are no dangerous bacteria in the water.

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments http://oysterradio.listen2myradio.com/

Civil War Lecture Series This Weekend!

Eight Civil War Lectures This Weekend!   Announcing a Fantastic Lineup of Eight Lectures This Weekend on Civil War History Topics!    At 7 p.m. Friday, the Director of the National Civil War Naval Museum, Ken Johnston, will give a lecture at the Maritime Museum. $5 includes low country boil on the docks. At 5 p.m. Sunday, Archaeologist Nancy White will present An Archaeological Mystery of Confederate Forts on the Apalachicola River at 5 p.m. at the Maritime Museum. $5 entry. Mayor Van Johnson will read the Emancipation Proclamation on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Riverfront Park. He will be accompanied by an African American choir performing period music.      All day on Saturday, there's a free lecture series at the Center for History, Culture, and Art on the corner of Water Street & Ave. E! 10:00 AM Dr. Jon Sheppard - Defense of Florida, 1861-1862 In 1861 following the outbreak of war, Florida politicians expressed their concern to Confederate Secretary of War Leroy Pope Walker, over Florida's coastal defenses, or rather the lack thereof.  This talk examines the attempts of the Confederate government to answer the state's demands, and defend two of Florida's important ports, Fernandina and Apalachicola, and the reasons why the defense of these two locations failed. Jonathan Sheppard is a native of Cross City, Florida.  He earned his PhD from Florida State University in 2008, and for the past three years has worked as a lecturer in the History Department at FSU.  His book, By the Noble Daring of Her Sons: The Florida Brigade of the Army of Tennessee was published by the University of Alabama Press in 2012.  It is available at the Maritime Museum. He is currently co-editing a series of essays on Florida during the Civil War, and is also working on a book that will chronicle the Mobile Campaign of 1864-65. Defense of Florida, 1861-1862. 11:00 AM Sean Klimek - Monitor v. Merrimac The Monitor v. Merrimac lecture addresses the events surrounding the world's first clash of ironclad vessels.  On 9 March 1862 at Hampton Roads, Virginia the USS Monitor engaged the CSS Virginia in an attempt to halt the destruction of the Union flotilla in the region by the Confederate ironclad.  Circumstances leading up to the clash, along with the battle and results, will be presented.  Sean Klimek is an Active Duty Air Force officer being sponsored by the Air Command and Staff College to pursue a PhD in History at Florida State University.  Sean is studying under Dr. G. Kurt Piehler, who is the Director of the World War II Institute, and is concentrating in U.S. post-1865 History with an emphasis on War and Society.  In the Air Force, Sean is a Senior Navigator with over 1,800 flying hours in the C-130 and T-43 aircrafts.   Sean is happily married and has two children. 1:00 PM David Gregory - Skulkers and Deserters of the Gulf Coast In Florida during the Civil War, Desertion in both Confederate and Union armies became a significant factor, more so to the Southern States than to the Federals.  The 1928 book, Desertion during the Civil War, by Ella Lonn, set the standard for this subject.  It is only in recent years that new publications on this topic appeared, and these, for the most part, deal with state-level Confederate desertions.  This lecture looks at desertion in Florida and goes behind the numbers.  Who were these men? What did they do for a living, what were their values, and why did they desert? Mr. Gregory retired in June 2008 as Curator of Education for the Museum of Florida History in Tallahassee.  He was also Manager of the Historical Museums Grants-in-Aid Program and the Research Historian for the World War II in Florida History Trail publication. He holds a MS in American History from The Florida State University and taught American History at Tallahassee Community College. 3:00 PM Dr. Maurice Melton - Who Owns Moses Dallas? Slave Moses Dallas was a maritime pilot, guiding steamboats on the Georgia coast. At the beginning of the Civil War he hired on to pilot warships for the Confederate Navy at Savannah, and in 1864 lost his life while guiding a Confederate expedition that captured the Union blockader Water Witch. For many white Southerners he has become a black Confederate hero.  But black Savannahians and Civil War historians know that the story is untrue: That Dallas faked his death, escaped, and joined the Union Navy as a freedom fighter. Or did he? Dr. Melton does some detective work. Dr. Melton is associate professor of history at Albany State University in Albany, Ga. He is author of The Confederate Ironclad. His latest book is The Best Station of Them All: The Savannah Squadron, 1861-1865, available at the Maritime Museum. 4:00 PM Dr. Ed Wiser - James Tomb, Confederate Torpedo Boat Skipper Contrary to popular myth, the American Civil War did not give rise to a host of new ideas about weaponry and explosives. However, it did provide the incentive to merge old ideas with contemporary technology. The result included the first practical repeating rifle, machine guns, submarines, land and sea mines, armored warships, and torpedo boat warfare. The latter was embraced by the Confederacy and its foremost practitioner was a young man from Jacksonville Florida, James Hamilton Tomb. This is his story.  Edward H. Wiser is a licensed captain with a PhD in naval history from Florida State University. He has written on riverine warfare and small combatants for US Naval Institute Proceedings, on the Union blockade for North and South magazine, and was a contributor to Craig Symonds' Union Combined Operations in the Civil War. When not on a boat, he pursues his lifelong interest in all things maritime and serves as an adjunct professor of strategy and policy for the Naval War College. 5:00 PM Mark Curenton - First Florida Federal Cavalry The Florida Panhandle today is the most Southern part of Florida, but during the Civil War West Florida and South Alabama had more ambivalent loyalties.  The First Florida Federal Cavalry was a regiment of white men organized at Fort Barrancas near Pensacola during the last year of the Civil War for service in the Union Army.  The unit was composed of men from West Florida and South Alabama who had either deserted from the Confederate Army or were evading conscription into the army.  Its officers were a mixture of foreigners, Northerners, and former Confederate officers.  The regiment participated in the Battle of Marianna and the Mobile Campaign.  In later years while Confederate veterans were feted and memorialized across the area the Union veterans who served in the First Florida Cavalry were forgotten.  Mark Campbell Curenton is a Florida native and a graduate of University of Florida.  He has a master's degree in urban and regional planning and works for the Franklin County Planning Department.  He has been a member of the Apalachicola Area Historical Society for the past decade and is a past president of the organization. Click here to download the detailed schedule of all events for the entire weekend. You can also view the schedule on our web page, or stop by the Maritime Museum for a copy.  The Apalachicola Times and Port St. Joe Star will also have the schedule in Thursday's edition.  Most of the events are free!      With Special Thanks to our Partners: USS Fort Henry Living History Unit The crew of the USS Water Witch USS Pawnee Marine Guard Historic Apalachicola Main Street Apalachicola Center for History, Culture, & Art The Raney House Museum Apalachicola Historical Society The Orman House Museum Panhandle Players City of Apalachicola St. George Island Lighthouse & Museum Story Teller Robyn Rennick Musicians Carol Harris of Wombat Sound Music Store & Randy Mims Apalachicola Maritime Museum Volunteers United Daughters of the Confederacy Florida Division, R. Don McLeod Chapter 2469, Crawfordville United Daughters of the Confederacy Florida Division, Ocheesee Chapter 2693, Blountstown United Daughters of the Confederacy Florida Division, Confederate Salt Works Chapter 2269, Panama City This event is sponsored in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments http://oysterradio.listen2myradio.com/