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Learn about sea turtles at Topsail May 27

Learn about preserving these majestic creatures at Topsail Location: Topsail Hill Preserve State Park on Scenic Road 30A Thursday, May 27 – 1:30 p.m. The majestic sea turtles are gearing up for another reproductive season.  Learn the facts about common Sea Turtles at Topsail.  Be a part of an enlightening program and see what you can do to help preserve these awe inspiring creatures of the sea. Park at the Day-Use area on Hwy 30A and take a short walk with...

Berry time for the birds in Walton County

Jenny Gomillion of DeFuniak Springs captured this nice photo of a cedar waxwing in a mulberry tree. Looks like there are plenty of berries ready to eat. To learn more about Jenny’s photography, go to www.inspirationsphotography.net About cedar waxwings: Look for Cedar Waxwings in woodlands of all kinds, and at farms, orchards, and suburban gardens where there are fruiting trees or shrubs. A silky, shiny collection of brown, gray, and lemon-yellow, accented with a subdued crest, rakish black mask, and...

Walton County Commissioners approve line of defense for the potential of oil spill

Proposed coastal dune lake protection methods waiting on DEP approval The Walton County Board of County Commissioners held an emergency meeting at the South Walton Annex Courthouse May 6 to discuss the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and the precautionary measures to protect South Walton’s beaches and coastal dune lakes. The Board unanimously approved a motion to set aside up to one-and-a-half million dollars from its reserve fund to help the sheriff’s office protect the beaches. The sheriff’s proposal includes three...

Walton County prepares for potential impact of oil spill

County officials asking for citizen volunteers Walton County officials held an emergency public forum April 30 to inform the public of their preparation plans for potential oil spill reaching South Walton’s beaches. On April 20, 2010 an explosion occurred on the mobile oil drilling platform Deepwater Horizon approximately 50 miles southeast of Venice, La. The fire damaged rig capsized and sank after burning for hours on April 22. The pipeline continues to spill more than 210,000 gallons of crude oil...

Choctawhatchee Estuary Family Festival May 1

Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park hosts educational day of fun for everyone Date: Saturday, May 1 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Department of Environmental Protection’s Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park, Friends of the Emerald Coast State Parks and the Mattie Kelly Cultural & Environmental Institute of Northwest Florida State College will sponsor the Choctawhatchee Estuary Family Festival. This family event will feature fun, educational activities and displays showcasing our coastal environment. Cheer on the crab races...

Dedicated group watches over nesting sea turtles

South Walton Turtle Watch Group keeps track of South Walton nesting sea turtles South Walton turtle nest season runs May 1 – October 31 According to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, sea turtles, are among the oldest creatures on earth, and have remained essentially unchanged for 110 million years. However, they face an uncertain future. Illegal harvesting, habitat encroachment, and pollution (physical and light) are only some of the things sea turtles must face as each species struggles to...