Hurricane expected to Strike on Monday

Hurricane Gustav is now moving northwest across the Gulf of Mexico at 15 miles per hour and is currently forecast to strike the Louisiana coastline sometime tomorrow.

This storm is extremely dangerous and the entire New Orleans metro area is now under a mandatory evacuation.

If you are one of the millions of people that have been forced to evacuate your home, you can monitor the situation in Louisiana online at http://www.wwl.com/. Just as they did during Katrina, they are doing a phenomenal job of covering the storm and providing emergency information.

If you are planning to be traveling in the South, please exercise extreme caution and monitor weather reports on the progress of this storm carefully. If there is anything you can do to help evacuees in your community, please do so. Also please keep the disaster relief fund at the American Red Cross in mind.

Hurricane Gustav threatening Gulf Coast

If you will be traveling anywhere on the Gulf Coast over the next few days, please exercise caution and stay up to date on the latest weather reports. You should also check with your hotel to make sure there is availability.

More than 1,000,000 people have already been evacuated from the New Orleans area as Hurricane Gustav begins its move north into the Gulf of Mexico.

The storm is a major hurricane and is currently following a track that could bring it to land near Grand Isle, Louisiana on Monday. This would move the eye of the storm just west of New Orleans, an extremely serious situation for the city because the most severe part of tropical systems is usually in the area east of the eye.

This storm is considered to be extremely dangerous and hurricanes can sometimes be very unpredictable, so if you are traveling anywhere from Florida around to Texas, please stay up to date on weather conditions. Also please keep the people in the path of this storm in your prayers and do what you can to help in its aftermath.

Tropical Storm Fay Update

Tropical Storm Fay continues to cause major problems in the South. The storm is now having a major impact on southern Alabama and Georgia as well as much of the state of Florida.

If you are planning to travel South this weekend, please stay up to date on the latest weather conditions. Not only are flights being impacted, but there is widespread flooding across Florida and tornado activity has been reported throughout the storm area. Some areas in the vicinity of Tallahassee have reported 22 inches of rain so far.

The Jackson County Times newspaper in Marianna, Florida provides good updates for that area and links to video updates and an array of other information on the storm, so please visit them if you would like to keep up with things. Just click here to visit their site.

Update: Florida State Park Closings due to Tropical Storm Fay

Here is the latest information on state park closings in Florida due to severe weather conditions from Tropical Storm Fay. The storm continues to cause significant difficulties, so please consult the latest information on weather conditions if you plan to travel in Florida this week.

You can view current video updates on the storm at www.jacksoncountytimes.net.

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced the closure and re-opening of several state recreation areas, preserves and district offices on Thursday, August 21. Closed facilities will remain closed until further notice due to imminent weather conditions.

Regulatory District Office Closed (1)

DEP Northeast District Office
7825 Baymeadows Way, Suite B200
Jacksonville, Florida 32256

Regulatory District Office Re-opening (1)

DEP Southeast District Branch Office
1801 SE Hilmoor Drive, Suite C-204
Port St. Lucie, Florida 34952

State Parks Re-opening (8)

Anastasia State Park – Day Use Open; Campground is Closed
1340-A State Road A1A South
St. Augustine, Florida 32080

Fort Pierce Inlet State Park
905 Shorewinds Drive
Ft. Pierce, Florida 34949

Faver-Dykes State Park – Day Use Open; Campground is Closed
1000 Faver-Dykes Road
St. Augustine, Florida 32086

Fort Clinch State Park – Day Use Open; Campground is Closed
2601 Atlantic Avenue
Fernandina Beach, Florida 32034

Talbot Island State Park – Day Use Open; Campground is Closed
12157 Heckscher Drive
Jacksonville, Florida 32226

Collier-Seminole State Park
20200 E. Tamiami Trail
Naples, Florida 34114

Highlands Hammock State Park
5931 Hammock Road
Sebring, Florida 33872

Long Key State Park – Day Use Open; Campground is Closed
67400 Overseas Highway
Long Key, Florida 33001

State Park Closures (5)
(Includes 2 New Closures *)

Gamble Rogers State Park
3100 S. State Road A1A
Flagler Beach, Florida 32136

Kissimmee Prairie
33104 N.W. 192nd Avenue
Okeechobee, Florida 34972

Tomoka State Park
2099 North Beach Street
Ormond Beach, Florida 32174

*Bulow Creek State Park
3351 Old Dixie Highway
Ormond Beach, Florida 32174

*Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park
County Road 2001
Flagler Beach, Florida

Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas (CAMA) Re-opening (1)

Southeast Aquatic Preserves Office
3300 Lewis Street
Ft. Pierce, Florida 34981

Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas (CAMA) Closures (3)
(Includes 1 New Closure *)

*Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve
and Environmental Learning Center
505 Guana River Road
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida 32082

East Central Florida Aquatic Preserves
3783 North Indian River Drive
Cocoa, Florida 32926

Northeast Aquatic Preserves Office
13802 Pumpkin Hill Road
Jacksonville, Florida 32226

Office of Greenways and Trails (OGT) Closures (5)
(Includes 2 Re-Closures *)

Cross Florida Greenway
Buckman Lock Visitor Center
200 Buckman Lock Road
Palatka, Florida 32177

Cross Florida Greenway
Rodman Campground
410 Rodman Road
Palatka, Florida 32177

Cross Florida Greenway
Santos Campground
3080 SE 80th Street
Ocala, Florida 34491

*Cross Florida Greenway
Sharpes Ferry Office
8282 SE Hwy 314
Ocala, Florida 34470

*Van Fleet State Trail Office
7500 Bay Lake Road
Groveland, Florida 34736

For additional information, visit www.dep.state.fl.us or www.floridadisaster.org.

Florida State Parks Update

Here is the latest information on State Park closings in Florida due to Tropical Storm Fay. The storm continues to cause major issues for parts of the state, so please make sure to consult the latest weather information if you have a Florida vacation planned.

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TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced the closure and re-opening of several state recreation areas, preserves and district offices on Wednesday, August 20. Closed facilities will remain closed until further notice due to imminent weather conditions.

Regulatory District Offices Closed (2):

DEP Northeast District Office
7825 Baymeadows Way, Suite B200
Jacksonville, Florida 32256

DEP Southeast District Branch Office
1801 SE Hilmoor Dr., Suite C-204
Port St. Lucie, Florida 34952

State Parks Re-opening (35):

Alafia River State Park
14326 South County Road 39
Lithia, Florida 33547

Cayo Costa State Park
Located directly south of Boca Grande
Boca Grande, Florida 33921

Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park
12301 Burnt Store Road
Punta Gorda, Florida 33955

Collier-Seminole State Park – Day Use Only
20200 E. Tamiami Trail
Naples, Florida 34114

Delnor Wiggins State Park
11135 Gulf Shores Drive
Naples, Florida 34108

Don Pedro Island State Park
Boating location is Nautical Waterproof Chart #25
Intercoastal Waterway sign guides visitors to the park
Boca Grande, Florida 33821

Estero Bay Preserve State Park
Located near Estero between Ft. Myers and Naples
Estero, Florida 33928

Fakahatchee Strand State Park
137 Coastline Drive
Copeland, Florida

Gasparilla Island State Park
880 Belcher Road
Boca Grande, Florida 33821

Hillsborough River State Park
15402 US 301 N
Thonotosassa, Florida 33592

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park
3109 E. Sunrise Blvd
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33304

Koreshan State Park
U.S. 41 at Corkscrew Road
Estero, Florida 33928

Lake Manatee State Park
20007 SR 64
Bradenton, Florida 34202

Little Manatee River State Park
215 Lightfoot Road
Wimauma, Florida 33598

Lovers Key State Park
8700 Estero Blvd.
Ft. Myers Beach, Florida 33931

Mound Key State Park
Located several miles by boat from Lovers Key State Park or Koreshan State Park
Estero, Florida 33928

Myakka River State Park
13208 State Road 72
Sarasota, Florida 34241

Oscar Scherer State Park
1843 S. Tamiami Trail
Osprey, Florida 34229

Paynes Creek State Park
888 Lake Branch Road
Bowling Green, Florida 33834

Skyway Fishing Pier State Park
4905 34th Street South, #5000
St. Petersburg, Florida 33711

Stump Pass Beach State Park
Located at the end of Manasota Key off I-75, exit 191
Englewood, Florida

Atlantic Ridge State Park
16450 SE Federal Highway
Hobe Sound, Florida 33455

Avalon State Park
905 Shorewinds Drive
Ft. Pierce, Florida 34949

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
1200 S. Crandon Blvd.
Key Biscayne, Florida 33149

Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park
County Road 905
Key Largo, Florida 33037

Indian Key Historic State Park
U.S. 1 Mile Marker 85.5
Islamorada, Florida 33036

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park
10900 State Road 703 A1A
North Palm Beach, Florida 33408

John U. Lloyd Beach State Park
6503 N. Ocean Drive
Dania Beach, Florida 33004

Jonathan Dickinson State Park – River Campground Closed
16450 SE Federal Hwy.
Hobe Sound, Florida 33455

Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park
U.S. 1 Mile Marker 85.5
Islamorada, Florida 33036

Oleta River State Park
3400 NE 163rd Street
N. Miami, Florida 33160

Seabranch Preserve State Park
State Road A1A near the VFW parking lot
Stuart, Florida 34997

St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park
4810 SE Cove Rd.
Stuart, Florida 34997

The Barnacle Historic State Park
3485 Main Hwy.
Coconut, Grove, Florida 33133

Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park
U.S. 1 Mile Marker 85.5
Islamorada, Florida 33036

State Parks Closed (9):

Fort Clinch State Park – Day Use Open; Campground is Closed
2601 Atlantic Avenue
Fernandina Beach, FL 32034

Talbot Island State Park – Day Use Open; Campground is Closed
12157 Heckscher Drive
Jacksonville, Florida 32226

Kissimmee Prairie State Park
33104 NW 192nd Avenue
Okeechobee, Florida 34972

Gamble Rogers State Park
3100 S. State Road A1A
Flagler Beach, Florida 32136

Tomoka State Park – Day Use Open; Campground is Closed
2099 North Beach Street
Ormond Beach, FL 32174

Faver-Dykes State Park – Day Use Open; Campground is Closed
1000 Faver-Dykes Road
St. Augustine, FL 32086

Anastasia State Park – Day Use Open; Campground is Closed
1340-A State Road A1A South
St. Augustine, FL 32080

Highlands Hammock State Park
5931 Hammock Road
Sebring, FL 33872

Fort Pierce Inlet State Park
905 Shorewinds Drive
Fort Pierce, FL 34949

Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas Closed (3):

East Central Florida Aquatic Preserves
3783 North Indian River Drive
Cocoa, FL 32926

Northeast Aquatic Preserves Office
13802 Pumpkin Hill Road
Jacksonville, FL 32226

Southeast Aquatic Preserves Office
3300 Lewis Street
Ft. Pierce, FL 34981

Greenways and Trails Re-opening (5):

Cross Florida Greenway
Sharpes Ferry Office
8282 SE Hwy 314
Ocala, Florida 34470

Cross Florida Greenway
Inglis Lock Office
20751 SE 90th Avenue
Inglis, Florida 34449

Withlacoochee State Trail Office
315 N Apopka
Inverness, Florida 34450

Nature Coast State Trail Office
22 SE 2nd Avenue
Chiefland, Florida 32693

Van Fleet State Trail Office
7500 Bay Lake Road
Groveland, Florida 34736

Greenways and Trails Closed (3):

Cross Florida Greenway
Buckman Lock Visitor Center
200 Buckman Lock Road
Palatka, Florida 32177

Cross Florida Greenway
Rodman Campground
410 Rodman Road
Palatka, Florida 32177

Cross Florida Greenway
Santos Campground
3080 SE 80th Street
Ocala, Florida 34491

For more information, visit www.dep.state.fl.us or www.floridadisaster.org.

Dozens of State Parks close in Florida due to Tropical Storm

I received the following notice this evening from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection announcing a number of park closes in the state due to Tropical Storm conditions.

Many of the areas are important historic sites, so please take note if you plan to be traveling in the Sunshine State over the next few days:

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced the closure of several state parks, preserves and district offices as of 5 p.m. until further notice due to imminent weather conditions.

Closed parks, preserves and offices include:

Regulatory District Offices (4):

South District Fort Myers Office
2295 Victoria Avenue
Ft. Myers, Florida 33901

South District Marathon Branch Office
2796 Overseas Highway, Suite 221
Marathon, Florida 33050

South District Sebring Satellite Office
2812 Kenilworth Blvd.
Sebring Florida 33870

Southwest District Office
13051 North Telecom Parkway
Temple Terrace, FL 33637-0926

State Parks Closed (41):

Bahia Honda State Park
36850 Overseas Hwy.
Big Pine Key, Florida 33043

Curry Hammock State Park
56200 Overseas Hwy.
Marathon, Florida 33050

Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park
County Road 905
Key Largo, Florida 33037

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
300 Truman Annex
Key West, Florida 33041

Indian Key Historic State Park
U.S. 1 Mile Marker 85.5
Islamorada, Florida 33036

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
U.S. 1 Mile Marker 102.5
Key Largo, Florida 33037

Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park
U.S. 1 Mile Marker 85.5
Islamorada, Florida 33036

Long Key State Park
U.S. 1 Mile Marker 67.5
Long Key, Florida, 33001

San Pedro Underwater Archeological State Park
U.S. 1 Mile Marker 85.5
Islamorada, Florida 33036

Windly Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park
U.S. 1 Mile Marker 85.5
Islamorada, Florida 33036

Honeymoon Island State Park
#1 Causeway Blvd
Dunedin, Florida 34698

Caladesi Island State Park
#1 Causeway Blvd
Dunedin, Florida 34698

Anclote Key State Park
#1 Causeway Blvd
Dunedin, Florida 34698

Egmont Key State Park
4905 34th Street S., #5000
Dunedin, Florida 34698

Cayo Costa State Park
880 Belcher Road
Boca Grande, Florida 33921

Oscar Scherer State Park
1843 S. Tamiami Trail
Osprey, Florida 34229

Fakahatchee State Park
137 Coastline Drive
Copeland, Florida

Delnor Wiggins State Park
11135 Gulf Shores Drive
Naples, Florida 34108

Lovers Key State Park
8700 Estero Blvd.
Ft. Myers Beach, Florida 33931

Koreshan State Park
3800 Corkscrew Road
Estero, Florida 33928

Mound Key State Park
3800 Corkscrew Road
Estero, Florida 33928

Little Manatee Rive State Park
215 Lightfoot Road
Wimauma, Florida 33598

Myakka River State Park
13208 State Road 72.
Sarasota, Florida 34241

Skyway Fishing Pier State Park
#1 Causeway Blvd.
Dunedin, Florida 34698

Terra Ceia Preserve State Park
3708 Patton Ave.
Ellenton, Florida 34222

Madira Bickel Mound State Park
3708 Patton Ave.
Ellenton, Florida 34222

Judah P. Benjamin State Park
3708 Patton Ave.
Ellenton, Florida 34222

Lake Manatee State Park
20007 SR 64
Bradenton, Florida 34202

Beker State Park
3708 Patton Ave.
Ellenton, Florida 34222

Stump Pass Beach State Park
880 Belcher Road
Boca Grande, Florida 33821

Don Pedro Island State Park
880 Belcher Road
Boca Grande, Florida 33821

Gasparilla Island State Park
880 Belcher Road
Boca Grande, Florida 33821

Collier-Seminole State Park
20200 E. Tamiami Trail
Naples, Florida 34114

Estero Bay Preserve State Park
3800 Corkscrew Road
Estero, Florida 33928

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park
3109 E. Sunrise Blvd
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33304

John U. Lloyd Beach State Park
6503 N. Ocean Drive
Dania Beach, Florida 33004

Oleta River State Park
3400 NE 163rd Street
N. Miami, Florida 33160

The Barnacle Historic State Park
3485 Main Hwy.
Coconut, Grove, Florida 33133

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
1200 S. Crandon Blvd.
Key Biscayne, Florida 33149

St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park
4810 SE Cove Rd.
Stuart, Florida 34997

Jonathan Dickinson State Park- Campground Closed
16450 SE Federal Hwy.
Hobe Sound, Florida 33455

Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas (6):

Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve and Coral Reef Conservation Program:
1277 NE 79th Street Causeway
Miami, Florida 33138

Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves Office
12301 Burnt Store Road
Punta Gorda, Florida 33955

Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve
700-1 Fishermans Wharf
Ft. Myers Beach, Florida 33931

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
33 East Quay Road
Key West, FL 33040
and
95230 Overseas Hwy.
Key Largo, Florida 33037

Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
300 Tower Road
Naples, Florida 34113

Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve Office
130 Terra Ceia Road
Terra Ceia, Florida 34250

For more information on state park closures, visit www.floridastateparks.org. For additional information, visit www.dep.state.fl.us or www.floridadisaster.org.

Osceola - Part Three

This is a view of the paved trail leading from the Visitor Center to the prairie overlook at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park just south of Gainesville, Florida.

It was in country like this, this very country in fact, that the Alachua band of the Seminoles lived during the years leading up to the outbreak of the Second Seminole War in 1835.

Osceola became a young warrior hunting in these woods and surged to prominence at the Payne's Landing treaty negotiations in 1832. The Treaty of Moultrie Creek, signed with the United States a decade earlier, had established a large reservation for the Seminole in the heart of present-day Central Florida. By the Treaty of Payne's Landing, however, the government attempted to negotiate the removal of the entire nation to new lands west of the Mississippi.

Osceola, although he did not have the standing of a chief, vehemently opposed the proposal. At the signing, according to legend, he suddenly stabbed a knife into the treaty document with an announcement that it was the only signing the United States would obtain from him.

Osceola was thrown into irons following the incident and there is strong reason to believe that the legend of the treaty "knifing" is true. The surviving copy of the document does include an unusual slit about the size of a knife blade.

Following his imprisonment and outburst, there was little doubt that Osceola would fight any attempts to force the Seminole from Florida. The stage was set for the coming war.

Our series on Osceola will continue.

Battle of Massard Prairie Book now available at Fort Smith Museum of History

Paperback copies of The Battle of Massard Prairie: The 1864 Confederate Attacks on Fort Smith, Arkansas are now available at the Fort Smith Museum of History in downtown Fort Smith.

The museum is located at the western end of Rogers Avenue across from the Fort Smith National Historic Site and is open daily from Tuesday through Saturday. As of yesterday they had a full supply of autographed copies of the book.

The book explores the 1864 Confederate attacks that resulted in the Battles of Massard Prairie and Fort Smith. The two actions were important preliminaries to the highly successful Second Cabin Creek Expedition in present-day Oklahoma, one of the most successful Confederate raids of the Civil War.

Proceeds from the books benefit the Cane Hill Battlefield Driving Tour project in Northwest Arkansas and the Fort Smith Museum of History.

They are also available for sale at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park in Northwest Arkansas and can be purchased online at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/dalecox.

If you would like to read more about the Battle of Massard Prairie, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/massardprairie.

Osceola - Part Two

Continuing our series on the great Seminole leader Osceola, this vast and beautiful grassland just south of Gainesville, Florida, is Paynes Prairie.

Now a large state park, the prairie was a centerpiece of Seminole country during the years between the First and Second Seminole Wars (1819-1834). Believed to have been named for King Payne, a famed Seminole leader during the War of 1812, the prairie was surrounded by Seminole towns and settlements.

Following the destruction of the North Florida Seminole towns by Andrew Jackson in 1818, the survivors of McQueen's band fled south into this region of Florida. Osceola and his mother were among the refugees and he soon became associated with the groups living around Paynes Prairie.

It was in this area that the warrior grew to manhood, learning from the older members of his band how to hunt, fight and follow the traditional laws of the Creeks and Seminoles. Perhaps because he had spent much of his life as a refugee, he also developed a fierce attachment to the land and a determination to hold it for his people at all costs.

Osceola was not a chief, although he is often given this designation by modern writers. Instead he was a warrior, but because the Creeks and Seminoles recognized individual accomplishments as well as hereditary leadership, he grew to hold great influence among the people that had adopted his band. As such he became a powerful representative and leader for the Seminoles, although he was part of Micanopy's band.

Our series on Osceola will continue.