Latest news with #LifeguardAmbulance
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sea turtle festival in Port St. Joe focuses on safety and conservation
GULF COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – George Core Park in Port St. Joe was buzzing with excitement Sunday as locals and visitors gathered for the ninth annual Sea Turtle Festival. The free family-friendly event featured dozens of local art and crafts, vendors, live music, food trucks, and plenty of education about our aquatic neighbors. 'We are just kicking off a nesting season here on our beaches in Florida, and we're also kicking off tourism season. So, we want to remind all of our visitors who are coming from far and wide to visit our beaches that our sea turtles are also using our beaches, and the things that they can do to help ensure a successful nesting season,' Florida Coastal Conservancy director Jessica Swindall said. Visitors of all ages got a chance to learn how they can make a difference. From learning the nesting process to understanding the vital role coastal habitats play in the ecosystem. Lifeguard Ambulance recognizes their EMS professionals with community barbecue 'By turning off lights or using turtle-safe lighting, filling in holes, leveling sandcastles, and also removing any beach gear at the end of the day,' Swindall added. With a strong turnout and positive community response, organizers say the festival continues to grow each year. When the festival began, there were 15 vendors. This year, there were around 70. 'When we moved here six years ago from California, we had nothing like this in California. And when I got here and I walked out on Cape San Blas and saw the turtle nests, I thought, what a great thing to do. So, I got a hold of Jessica from the Turtle Center, and I've just been doing turtle patrol since,' Forgotten Coast Lavender owner Nancy Lucia said. Sea turtle nesting season runs through October. So be sure to give these animals the space and care they need. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
LakeFest brings family fun to DeFuniak Springs
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Lakefest began in 2014 to bring more activities to Lake DeFuniak, located in Chipley Park. 'We have such a beautiful gem in the middle of our town. This lake is perfectly round. And we were not utilizing it. So I came up with a proposal to see if we could have some activities, family day here, and the city took it and ran with it,' Lakefest Volunteer Coordinator Marie Hinson said. It is in the heart of downtown Defuniak Springs, bringing more visitors to the area. 'A lot of people will come to this event, have never seen this lake before. And so it's always a big part of the conversation,' Defuniak Springs Mayor Bob Campbell said. Lakefest was supposed to be held two weeks ago, but it was rained out. Lifeguard Ambulance recognizes their EMS professionals with community barbecue 'If the weather is a little iffy, then it's going to be mighty skimpy,' Campbell said. The new date didn't stop visitors from showing up for family fun. This year's celebration included duck races, a cardboard boat competition, a car show, and a skydiving performance. There were also food vendors, bouncy houses, and swimming. Students from Walton Middle School were there to promote their effort to build a tractor museum. 'We have actually $5 million worth of John Deere and Caterpillar tractors that are fully restored, and they're willing to sell it to us for only $1.2 million. And so we're out here trying to get donations right now to try and get a type of ag center here in Walton County, because normally you have to travel somewhere to get something for agriculture. But it would be nice to have something here, right here in Walton County,' Walton Middle School FFA President Hailey Caldwell said. Defuniak Springs' next celebration will be their 4th of July parade and fireworks show. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Lifeguard Ambulance recognizes their EMS professionals with community barbecue
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – This week is National EMS week, recognizing the dedication of emergency medical services professionals. Lifeguard Ambulance has been in Bay County since 2012, providing in-facility transportation for hospital patients and 911 backup assistance for Bay County EMS. They are partnered with Ascension Sacred Heart Bay and HCA Florida Gulf Coast Hospital. Lifeguard Ambulance EMS employees work 12-hour shifts, handling anywhere from 18 to 25 calls a day. They do it without much appreciation, but employees say there is one way you can show appreciation, and it just takes a few words. Beyond the Brush Benefit event raises funds for mental health in Bay County 'The best thing that people can do is just say thank you. It's something that most of our folks are not used to hearing on a regular basis because our interactions are so short and brief. It's not something we hear a lot. If you do say thank you to a first responder, half the time, they don't know how to respond back to you when you say that because we're just not used to hearing it,' Lifeguard Ambulance operations captain Stewart Eubanks said. Lifeguard Ambulance is wrapping up its EMS week celebrations with a barbecue on professionals from the entire community were invited to come out and eat. They could also donate blood to One Blood and help save lives even when they're not on call. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
