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Banded Rufous hummingbird winters in same yard seven years in a row

Winter guest returns to delight of local bird lover Local hummingbird enthusiast and butterfly expert, Mary Ann Friedman of Niceville is excited about a winter guest she has coming to her yard year after year. A Rufous Hummingbird, nicknamed “Ruferocious” has been returning to Mary Ann’s yard each winter for seven years. “We call her Ruferocious because she is pretty possessive and usually kicks any other would be winter hummingbirds out in a very short time. Before she started “living”...

CHELCO’s new electric rate gives members choices

A new rate allows members to benefit from being energy conscious You can take control of your electric bill when you sign up for the new Time of Use rate offered by CHELCO. With the Time of Use rate, you are charged different amounts based on the time of day you use the electricity. This reflects the differing costs of power paid by CHELCO. During off-peak times, the rate will be reduced to 5.736 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh). During...

Alaqua Animal Refuge ‘furever’ friend of the week

A very special blue-eyed feline looking for a new friend Ever feel self-conscious about your appearance?  Maybe you’re having a bad hair day or you missed a spot when you were shaving?  Ever wonder if animals might feel the same about the way they look?  Take one sweet feline in the far Cat Cabin at Alaqua Animal Refuge.  Lacy is her name, a two and a half year old Siamese mix.  Her coat is a flattering shade of cream with...

Fall brings hummingbird enjoyment to Northwest Florida

Rare hummingbirds visit Florida this time of year Between now and early spring, rare hummingbird species from out West turn up in Florida on their way to their winter homes in the tropics. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are year-round residents throughout Florida, but many from up North also pass through here on their annual migration to Central America. Floridians who put up hummingbird feeders or grow red or orange tubular flowers may get a glimpse of one of at least nine additional...

Alaqua Animal Refuge ‘furever’ friend of the week

Handsome canine looking for new best friend to play with Exuberant, energetic and eager to please – these are just a few of the words used by the staff and volunteers at Alaqua Animal Refuge to describe Usher.  This handsome young canine is a Labrador retriever/mix who is always happy and ready to play.  Looking at him it’s hard to imagine that anyone could abandon him, but in fact he was found lost and wandering along the roadside.  Content though...

Alaqua Animal Refuge ‘furever’ friend of the week

Sophisticated feline looking for a new home If such things as charm schools for felines existed, Cierra could easily be their poster cat.  At two years of age, Cierra is a sophisticated Siamese who happens to be one of the sweetest feline residents at Alaqua Animal Refuge.  Her super soft mid-length coat of creamy white with its accents of chocolate brown is the perfect compliment for her mesmerizing blue eyes.  She gets along great with her fellow felines and is...

Alaqua Animal Refuge ‘furever’ friend of the week

Meet Artie, he’s all ears! This is Artie.  No, he’s not really all ears, but his ears are two of his most striking features.  They are a little bit floppy and don’t quite face in the usual direction, but their haphazard appearance just adds to Artie’s considerable canine charm.  A seven month old Labrador/ shepherd mix, Artie has a fuzzy blond coat with a fashionable touch of brown directly under his chin.  Although he is being very well cared for...

A peek into the Walton County Animal Shelter

Facility houses strays, offers adoptions Ever wonder where stray animals go after they are picked up by Animal Control? They are brought to the newly opended Walton County Animal Shelter in DeFuniak Springs. Opened since January 2010, the more than 8,000 square foot facility boasts 80 individual dog kennels and 93 cat cages. The high tech facility also houses isolation wards, examining rooms, operating room and a staff of more than 10 employees who care for the animals. Typically the...