May 27, 2009

Archive

Black bears ransack South Walton beehives

Bears wreak havoc, force beekeeper to install electric fences Local beekeeper Earl Barrett is not happy. Local black bears have been raiding his beehives in the Pt. Washington State Forest this season, forcing him to put up electric fences to protect his hives. As he worked on putting up a fence off of CR 83 in Santa Rosa Beach on May 27, Barrett said with a bit of frustration, “this is the third location of boxes I’ve had to fence...

Rare beauties discovered in South Walton

Local encounters endangered pitcher plants along South Walton creek Local Santa Rosa Beach resident Josh Foreman happened upon some rare beauties – endangered indigenous pitcher plants, on a walk near Camp Creek Golf Course recently. Josh explains: “Yellow pitcher plants (Sarracenia Flava) first caught my eye near a small creek flowing east towards Alys Beach, after following the creek a short distance my eyes found a little patch of young white topped pitcher plants (Sarracenia leucophylla) ready to grow up....

Spinnaker flying on the Choctawhatchee Bay

Local family enjoys high-flying adventure Colleen and Brett Hinely of Bluewater Bay, take their two daughters, Aubrey and Claire for high-flying adventure on their sailboat, as the youngsters enjoy spinnaker flying near their home on the Choctawhatchee Bay. Colleen explains how it is done – The spinnaker sail is the very forward sail that helps to push the boat along on a downwind. For spinnaker flying, we rig the bottom lines of the sail with a swing attachment. When the...

Nature girl’s Memorial Day Weekend picks

Lots of fun outdoor activities this Memorial Day Weekend Friday, May 22 Seaside CANCELLED Mike Zito:  7:00-9:00 p.m. – Saturday, May 23 Gulf Place 4:00-9:00 p.m. – Pony Rides – For a small fee the kids can enjoy a pony ride on the green near the Artisits of Gulf Place. Patriotic jumper – Let the kids celebrate by taking a jump in the patriotic jumper that will be set up at the Gulf Place Amphitheater. 7:00-9:00 – Bring your blankets...

Wildfire at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

A large brush fire is raging at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. As of 3:55 p.m.  South Walton Fire District, the State Park and the Division of Forestry are working on containing the fire. The fire is approximately 100 acres, and according to SWFD Deputy Chief, Sean Hughes, should be contained soon. At approximately 1:45pm today the SWFD received a call of a tree on fire in the vicinity of the Hwy. 98 and CR 30A intersection. It is believed...

First class escort into Baytowne Marina

Paddler with a cause comes to Baytowne Wharf Marina Margo Pelligrino paddled into Baytowne Marina on May 15 with a first class escort. Margo is on a journey from Ft. Piece Florida to New Orleans to build  support for the Healthy Oceans Act. Her escorts into the marina  were two local YOLO boarders and Karl Renelt, her sponsor for the local portion of her jouney. Margo received a warm welcome to the marina on Friday and is now on her...

Solar Powered Car Passes Through Walton County

The Power Of One slows traffic and draws crowd in Seaside Folks in Walton County got an eyeful of solar technology on May 7th, 8th and 9th as The Power Of One solar powered car passed through the area. The car is on a journey across the Americas to make a statement on behalf of the advantages of solar energy. Starting his trek in Buffalo, New York in June of 2008, Marcelo Da Luz has taken the car on a...

A positive attitude and some 550 cord never hurts

Two locals take survivalist course venture In my hands I had a scrawny piece of wire and a few feet of parachute cord.  I lifted my head to gain insight or inspiration from my travel partner in crime, and noticed the same expression on her face as on mine, the unmistakable what the hell are we supposed to do with this look. Kendall and I had found ourselves on the edge of the St. Johns River Water Management area, adjacent...