WAVE coach Amos Spires honored at Special Olympics Gala 
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WAVE coach Amos Spires honored at Special Olympics Gala 

Amos Spires, a coach with the Washington Academy of Varying Exceptionalities (WAVE) in the Washington County School District, was recently honored at the Special Olympics Florida Champions Gala on Oct. 28 in Orlando. Spires was on hand to celebrate his Special Olympics Florida Coach of The Year 2023, a news release said. Washington County Athlete…

FWC announces closure of recreational hogfish harvest
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FWC announces closure of recreational hogfish harvest

Hogfish recreational harvest closed in state and federal waters off the east coast of Florida and the Florida Keys starting Nov. 1, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recently announced. “This closure includes all state and federal waters south of Cape Sable, which is on the Gulf side of Florida and up the Atlantic…

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Dunn, other representatives introduce legislation bolstering drug coverage for rare diseases  

A legislative bill allowing Medicare Part D and Medicaid to cover drugs for off-label for treating rare diseases has been introduced into Congress for consideration by Rep. Neal Dunn (R-Panama City) and other congressional representatives. Off-label drugs would be covered “if there is peer-reviewed medical literature that indicates its use is appropriate†for rare disease…

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Florida unemployment numbers released

The latest unemployment numbers for Florida are in. The September unemployment rate for Washington County was 3.5%. With a total labor force of 10,440, the unemployment level is 366. Washington County was ranked 25th out of 67 Florida counties in terms of the unemployment rate.  The September rate is a .1% increase from the August…

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Washington County receives $3.4 million grant from state

Washington County was one of nine rural communities that will receive significant funding through the Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Specifically, Washington County is getting $3.482 million to construct roadway access, water improvements, fire protection, public parking improvements, and improvements to a railroad spur, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office announced in a…

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FWC orders halt on seasonal gag grouper harvest

STAFF REPORT Recreational harvest of gag grouper for the 2023 season will close in Gulf state waters starting Oct. 19 at 12:01 a.m. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued the closure during an October meeting. “The Gulf gag grouper recreational season will reopen on Sept. 1, 2024,†a news release said. Monroe County…

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State to step up testing for deer disease

Jim Turner News Service of Florida Some deer killed during two popular hunting days in December must be tested for a contagious disease fatal to the animals as the state expands efforts to limit the spread of the disease. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said on Tuesday, Sept. 19, that deer killed on…

FPL prepares for Idalia in Chipley
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FPL prepares for Idalia in Chipley

As Floridians anxiously await the impending landfall of Hurricane Idalia, Florida Power and Light (FPL) is preparing to restore power to those affected by the storm.   The parking lot at the Philllip Rountree Stadium is currently a processing site for FPL, where linemen from FPL Pensacola, Indiana, Oklahoma, Texas, and Alabama, along with vegetation…

Slowing Deer Disease ‘Best That We Can Hope For’
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Slowing Deer Disease ‘Best That We Can Hope For’

Environmentalists and animal-rights advocates want state wildlife officials to put more restrictions on deer farming and hunting as Florida responds to the long-expected arrival of a contagious disease fatal to deer. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission imposed a management zone covering parts of Holmes, Jackson and Washington counties after the detection last month…

Wildlife officials hold meeting in Bonifay as state braces for more cases of deer disease
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Wildlife officials hold meeting in Bonifay as state braces for more cases of deer disease

BONIFAY – After Florida’s first recorded case of a contagious disease fatal to deer, wildlife officials said Thursday other cases are likely and that it will be a “long-term marathon†to address the issue. But it also could mean a short-term increase in hunting limits in the region of Northwest Florida where the case was…