January 31, 2017

Archive

Americana Concert Series at Camp Helen State Park Feb. 18

Date/time: Saturday, February 18, 2017 – 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Camp Helen State Park with Lucky Mud and the Friends of Camp Helen Sate Park present Tom Kimmel as part of their Americana Concert Series. Singer, songwriter, entertainer, poet and teacher, Tom Kimmel is all of these things and more.  Since 1980 a dozen of Tom’s compositions have been recorded by a host of major artists, including Linda Ronstadt, Johnny Cash, Joe Cocker, Art Garfunkel and Randy Travis. They’ve been featured...

Point Washington State Forest prescribed burn gone awry, now contained

It was a nail biting few hours on Jan. 30 for South Walton residents as a prescribed burn in the Point Washington State Forest grew out of control. The prescribed burn by Florida Forest Service personnel was slated for an area on the south side of U.S. Hwy. 98 between CR 393 and U.S. Hwy 331. Shortly after 2 p.m., unexpected winds out of the Southwest drove the fire quickly towards U.S. Hwy. 98 and jumped over the highway to...

Camellia Festival at Eden Gardens State Park Feb. 18

Eden Gardens State Park and the Friends of Eden Gardens State Park will host the Annual Camellia Festival February 18, 2017.  Visitors are invited to stroll through the gardens and enjoy camellia demonstrations and presentations.  Living History (re-enactors) will also be present on the grounds during the festival. Local food vendors; Dog man Du delicious hot dogs and Dovalina’s wood fired pizza will be available for purchase or pack a picnic lunch to enjoy. Camellias and other plants will be available for a...

Choctawhatchee Audubon Society February events

Audubon events for February 2017 2 February Monthly Meeting and Presentation: “Birding in the Philippines” — Choctawhatchee Audubon Society member Lenny Fenimore will entertain you with a photographic account of his March 2016 birding trip to the Philippines.  He explored the three large Philippine islands of Luzon, Mindanao and Palawan, covering diverse habitats from sea level to 9,000 feet, and saw representatives of 50 families of birds. The meeting will be held in Room 130 of the student services building...

Prescribed fire benefits Walton forests

Ever wonder why Forestry Service and our State parks set fire to the forest? With more than 20,000 acres of managed forest in South Walton, it’s important to know the answer to the burning question. The answer is quite simple – to preserve a healthy environment. Not only does the wildlife thrive after a burn, the forest floor rejuvenates to a proper natural balance. Many of Florida’s ecosystems such as longleaf pine sandhills, flatwoods and sand pine scrub cannot survive...

Walton County fishing report for Jan. 25

Fishing is good Bay: Anything in the bay! Redfish, speckled trout, black drum, and sheepshead. Hunting: Starting to see signs of deer going into rut. Click here for fishing forecast Bay and river report brought to you by Copeland’s. “Where the locals shop and the tourists are welcome.” Click here to find out more about Copeland’s. Copeland’s Gun and Tackle Shop 17290 U.S. Hwy. 331 S Freeport, Florida 32439 (850) 835-4277 Store hours: Mon. – Fri.: 6 a.m. – 5:30...

Champagne brunch and home tour benefits Grit and Grace Feb. 11

“Grit and Grace” is the official folk life production of Walton County Florida and is a 501C3 non-profit organization. Their annual production would not be possible without the generosity of patrons and supporters. To help support their efforts, a Valentines Champagne Brunch will be held on Saturday February 11, 2017 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at 676 Circle Drive in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Tickets are $50 a person. In addition to a brunch in a historic home, attendees will...

Irula tribesmen and detector dogs help UF/IFAS and FWC remove pythons in Florida

The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) are working together on unique projects to target Burmese pythons in Florida. Two projects include using detection dogs and Irula tribesmen to help remove pythons from environmentally sensitive areas. In their first eight days on the job, the Irula tribesmen — world-renowned snake catchers from India — removed 13 pythons, including four on their first visit to Crocodile Lake National...