Florida

Susan Cocking

While officials of the Big Cypress National Preserve work on a long-term management plan for 146,000 acres known as the ``addition lands,'' now is a great time to explore them. Insects are few, and the morning air is still cool.

The addition lands, located to the northeast and to the west of the original boundary, became part of the preserve in 1988. It's a huge wilderness of cypress domes, watery sloughs, dry prairie and sinkhole lakes, interspersed with 10 to 15 private cabins and camps that were built before it was public land. The only way to access the area -- unless you are a landowner -- is on foot.

CAPE CORAL: Cape Coral residents are having trouble with people driving ATVs in their neighborhood, knocking down mailboxes and damaging yards. Cape Coral Police say there is something residents can do to help fix the problem.

Something was missing when Christina Thomas backed out of her driveway to go to work.

Dan Scanlan

Guana Reserve officials have begun repairing damaged inland marsh areas of the huge state park in South Ponte Vedra Beach. They're also seeking the public's help repairing other vegetation areas near the beach.

Park officials had problems with people running four-wheel-drive all-terrain vehicles through marshy areas. But thanks to new warning signs and increased St. Johns County Sheriff's Office patrols, ATVers have learned they could be ticketed for leaving deep ruts in the sensitive areas.

Ray Reyes

THONOTOSASSA - Sweet deals are hard to find but Thomas "Grizz" Kamermayer says he has one of the best in the county.

A park ranger, Kamermayer spends his day shifts managing activities on the 106-acre Morris Bridge Park. At night, he double-checks doors and gates while keeping an eye out for vandals or trespassers at the smaller Thonotosassa Recreation Center about six miles away.

Road rage stories are old hat in the news biz. But off-road rage? Now that’s news of the man-bites-dog variety.

Or maybe not.

Recently, the Walton County Sheriff's Office has received several calls concerning the use of All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) in the Liberty Community, several miles outside of DeFuniak Springs off U.S. Highway 331. One resident on Harrison Drive says “there's about four or five young people who frequently drive at high speeds, mostly on weekends and holidays”.

Florida Statute allows ATVs to be operated during the daytime on unpaved roadways where the posted speed limit is less than 35 miles per hour by a licensed driver, or by a minor under the supervision of a licensed driver. But unlike Florida Statute, Walton County Ordinance (20-22) prohibits any use of ATVs except on private property.

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – Aggravated battery and assault charges are filed against a Keystone Heights man accused of using his pickup truck to strike an ATV and injure the rider.

Frank David Doyle Jr., 57, is free on $35,000 bond following his arrest Monday, Nov. 30, at his home in the 7200 block of Pleasant Point Road, according to a Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.

David Fleshier

Hoping to prevent boat propellers from tearing up seagrass, Everglades National Park has proposed banning the use of outboard motors in part of Florida Bay.

The Snake Bight section of the bay would be declared a pole and troll zone, where only push poles, paddles and electric trolling motors could be used.

Curtis Morgan