Calhoun County libraries have updated their hours for the rest of the year into 2021. Click on the image below for more details:
Local Libraries Update Hours
on Category: Community Announcement
on Flea Across Florida
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Flea Across Florida is here! FAF is Florida’s longest open market going from Jacksonville to Pensacola and occurs annually in April and September. It is sponsored by Friends of Flea Across Florida. Today, September 11th is the last day to enjoy the fleeting journey of flea shopping until next year. Want to find participating locations near you? Visit the official 2021 map here! For more information or to stay up-to-date on next year’s events, visit the FAF Facebook page. 
Free Trees for North Florida
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The Arbor Day Foundation is working with Florida State Parks to help replace trees lost by Hurricane Michael in North Florida. If you live in Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, or Washington County, visit Arbor Day – Florida Trees to reserve your free tree.
There are four different native tree species to choose from but supplies are limited so be sure to reserve yours today. When the saplings are ready to be planted, they will be shipped directly to your home. Trees are beautiful, reduce energy costs, improve air quality, provide shade, and more!
Grant Given to Jackson Hospital
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Jackson Hospital received a $2.5 million grant to improve operations during future natural weather phenomenon. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved a grant of $2,584,225 to allow the hospital to purchase and install 12 permanent generators within the hospital’s network of facilities. The grant was funded specifically by FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) in response to Hurricane Michael in 2018. The generator project will allow Jackson Hospital to continue operating at all locations during any future power outages.
Florida Panhandle Hospitals
on There are a number of hospitals and emergency rooms in the Florida Panhandle, but the top three are as follows:
- Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital (Pensacola). Phone (850) 416-7000. Address: 5151 North 9th Ave, Pensacola, FL 32504. Website.
- Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare (Tallahassee). Phone (850) 431-1155. Address: 1300 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308. Website.
- Ascension Sacred Heart Bay Hospital (Panama City). Phone (850) 769-1511. Address: 615 North Bonita Ave, Panama City, FL 32401. Website.
Help Marianna Win a Dog Park
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Jackson County has been nominated for a new dog park grant but requires the assistance of the community to win this grant. You can vote ONCE A DAY every day until August 31st. Jackson County has proposed 4574 Lodge Drive as the location for their future dog park. In the city of Marianna alone, there are five pet salons, two animal hospitals, one animal shelter, and one pet daycare resort – truly, a city of dog lovers! However, this animal-loving community has no place to take their dogs for social interaction and playtime. The Bark for Your Park grant, sponsored by the PetSafe Brand, would fund a fenced-in off-leash dog park at the Citizen’s Lodge Park; it would be about a half-acre in size and feature benches for seating, a watering station, shade structure, and a dog waste collection station.
Visit the voting link for Marianna’s dog park location to register your vote!
Heat Exhaustion vs. Heat Stroke
on Dangerously high temperatures increase the risk of heat-related illnesses, and temperatures are set to rise steadily throughout the weekend. Be on the lookout for signs of heat exhaustion and/or heat stroke!
To treat heat exhaustion, first get to a cooler, air-conditioned location. Then, slowly drink water if you are fully conscious. Be sure to take a cool shower or use cold compresses to cool down without being sick. For heat stroke, call 911 IMMEDIATELY! Then, move them to a cooler location and apply cooling cloths/compresses or use a cold bath. DO NOT give them anything to drink.
Stay safe by taking breaks, avoiding outside work during periods of high sun, and drinking plenty of water for hydration.
NEW BUSINESS: Jemison Heating & Cooling
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Tomorrow at 8:15 a.m., Jemison Heating and Cooling will be hosting a Ribbon Cutting to celebrate their grand opening. Jemison Heating and Cooling is owned and operated by David Jemison, and this grand opening is for their second store. Jemison has over 20 years of service and offers residential & commercial installation, maintenance, repairs and free estimates. Call 850-482-8100 for more information.
Florida Panhandle Snakes
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The Florida Panhandle is an area that offers exceptional biodiversity which means it is capable of supporting many of the 44 species of snake noted to live in Florida. In particular, the Apalachicola River basin acts as a biodiversity hot spot. In fact, the biodiversity of the area allows for 12 unique species that live only in the panhandle. For a detailed look at the 12 species, visit the following blog post written by Rick O’Connor, a University of Florida Extension Agent.
Fast facts:
- 6 of the 12 are nonvenomous water snakes
- 2 of the 12 are venomous snakes which accounts for about 33% of the venomous species in FL
- 4 of the 12 are small terrestrial snakes that rarely grow over a foot in length
Tax Free Weekends
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Tax-free weekends are coming up quickly! Alabama’s back-to-school event is this weekend, July 16th-18th. Clothing, computers, school supplies, and more will be tax-free. Visit the Alabama Department of Revenue’s site for more information, including a list of specific exemptions. Florida’s tax-free event is longer and begins the last weekend of the month, July 30th to August 9th. Visit the Florida Department of Revenue’s site for more information, and be sure to mark your calendars.