Franklin County makes the swimsuit issue

            About 60 million people around the world are going to have to learn to pronounce Apalachicola after they open their Sports Illustrated swimsuit editions on Tuesday.

That’s because Franklin County will feature prominently in what most likely the most popular magazine issue in history.

Sports Illustrated photographers and swimsuit models were in the county last October taking the shots that the world will see when the magazine comes out next week.

Part of the reason the Gulf Coast was chosen as one of the 5 locations for the magazine was to help draw attention to the area which has seen some difficult times in recent years.

The shoot was a poorly kept secret as it had to be mentioned at a televised county commission meeting last year so the Apalachicola bay chamber of Commerce could get the funding to host the shoot.

But it turns out that Franklin county residents know how to keep a secret, and there was very little discussion about the photo shoot until USA today made the official announcement last Friday.

And actually Franklin County may get a mention on National TV Monday night as the cover for the swimsuit issue is unveiled on Late Night with David letterman.

The issue will be available Valentine’s Day on newsstands, on SI.com and for tablets and phones.

Locally there will be a party to celebrate Franklin County’s new fame on Thursday afternoon at 5:30 at the Gibson Inn in Apalachicola.

Everyone is invited to attend.

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