turtle watch volunteer arrested

What makes you say that? I do not recall ever saying I hated the organization. They are doing a great job. But of course, they are being paid to a do a job and I expect nothing short of total excellence from all of my employees.

I am asking you to retract your statement.
I am not being paid to do this job, nor would I accept pay as I have indicated. It is a volunteer organization. I do this for a completely different reason that I surmise you do not understand. If I had to purchase the shirts to be able to represent this organization and walk the beaches for them, I wouldn't have hesitated.
Please contact Sharon as Kathydwells suggested. I speak of the things I know about this organization, but I am not a spokesperson for them.

Gidget you are an inspiration. Out of all the posts I find yours the most heart wrenching. Here is someone who is leaving all she loves and coming to this Paradise to make a new home. She is practically begging to help to make this work. And, she's asking how to do this the "legal way". YOU are my hero!!!


This is not "Whale Wars" with absolutely no one to stop the Japanese....this is the Emerald Coast of Florida, with Law Enforcement. Can we not give them a little credit??? They may not do all that everyone would like them to do, but we are fortunate to live where there is not a shootout in the neighborhood everynight.

Maybe we should put a confessional at each beach exit. Any volunteers?

Thanks you for reading my post. Everyone was bickering back and forth so much I didn't know if it was even read.

I appreciate the thoughtful comments - I truly do.

I want everyone to COME TO A CONSENSUS!!! It can't be that hard. To think that there is animosity towards each other on a forum about turtles and litter - it just makes me very sad right now. In fact, I see a lot of this type of behavior on the forum regarding ideas and differences. Golly - anger and rudeness has no place in discussion.:nono1:
Let's agree to state what the problem is and list solutions - what can we do to improve things and not run off to Costa Rica or blame this person or that organization. OR label people!! I'm afraid to even say what I truly think for fear of being bashed! (re: politics especially!)

Of course, there are many who calmly state their case, make their observations and get lost in the thread lol! I learn more from them and even want to listen to an opposite point of view if it is stated rationally. But when people start getting rude (like getting on someone's case because they had a typo and knocking points off of an IQ due to a MISTAKE) I want to just get off. But I can't cause I'm moving here and I want to be a part of something magical and positive! I have very high hopes!

So, what's the problem? And what are our first steps to a solution?

Gidget

Thanks Gidget. I think it's already been stated a couple times that the root problem may be that the beaches aren't always left in the same condition as they were found.

OR label people!! I'm afraid to even say what I truly think for fear of being bashed! (re: politics especially!)

I want to just get off. But I can't cause I'm moving here and I want to be a part of something magical and positive! I have very high hopes!

So, what's the problem? And what are our first steps to a solution?

Gidget

Gidget, we too are moving to sowal, I am only a few miles from it as I type. The truth is a new community (Universe) was born when the Internet became available. Now we have real life and surreal life. This is another thread so I will stop here. The people of sowal are all good! They just seem to let their "Hair" down more on here. Besides if there was not this LOVE here this blog would die!

You are wonderful Gidget, and I know you will be quite the hit with the long-term renters with zero pride in the neighborhood. Everyone will look forward to your insight and guidance when you get to Blue Mountain Beach. I know many of those lazy people and they need another Louisiana ex-tourist to show them how it's done. Good luck.

With that mentality it wont be long before they are gone and the food value would be gone, Oh wait... The Bush Factor kicked in! They never worried about hunger here in this country, So there is some hope for you!

Now you are learning. If you refuse to recognize it as a problem then it obviously does not exist.

Blue Mountain Beach

The land of Whack-a-doodles

Now you are learning. If you refuse to recognize it as a problem then it obviously does not exist.

Gidget,

Two things you will learn about me:

1. I have been looking for an excuse to move to Costa Rico for years. Its about the waves. About every other month I find an issue to scream about for me to move. My wife just rolls her eyes. She knows I am full of s***!:roll:

2. I have been looking for an excuse and a way to meet Shelly for years.

It may finally come true!

Another thing, Sowal is a great place to live. We all get heated at times because of our love of this place. By no means would it be an intent to steer you away. You seem like a great person and I feel you will be a local in no time. Come on down and get in the mix! Just remember to not leave your stuff on the beach or throw cigarette butts out your window and life will be wonderful for you!

WRobert,

I just heard Mary was a conservative....

I have always been told the younger turtles make the best soup.

Ouch! Low blow!

WRobert,

I just heard Mary was a conservative....

Extremism exists on both ends of the pendelum.

Updated NW Florida Daily News Article.


NWFDailyNews.com : Woman charged with mischief during turtle walk

Based on recent news reports from the newswire, this is low-level terrorism.

"That law dictates which items can be left on the beach overnight, but its enforcement was suspended last month to give county officials time to revise it."


This might have something to do with the alleged acts.

I am asking you to retract your statement.
I am not being paid to do this job, nor would I accept pay as I have indicated. It is a volunteer organization. I do this for a completely different reason that I surmise you do not understand. If I had to purchase the shirts to be able to represent this organization and walk the beaches for them, I wouldn't have hesitated.
Please contact Sharon as Kathydwells suggested. I speak of the things I know about this organization, but I am not a spokesperson for them.

...don't sweat the small stuff--claiming a volunteer t-shirt as compensation is pure piffle.
.

I'm afraid to even say what I truly think for fear of being bashed!

Gidg,

Fear not...you get used to it.

.

Outsider Looking In

I have just joined this network, I am what you would say is a tourist. My 2 cents worth, you have the most wonderful place in the world. We used to go to Panama City, got tired of it, started going to Gulf Shores, condos took over beach, found Seagrove Beach 4 years ago and would never go anywhere else. We visit 2 times a year, spend our family thanksgiving on the beach. In all of my trips I have never felt like we were looked at as tourists, the people there are so nice. Some of the issues here may be that the people are not as informed about things as they should be. Me for one didnt realize the value of the efforts to protect the turtles until I did a little research. No matter where you go there are going to be people who dont care how they leave any place they go. We have a new Wal Mart, within days there were dirty diapers in the parking lot. My hats off to all of you for trying to preserve the place you call home, I am trying to figure out how I could become a part of it. As for the lady who was arrested, she has problems. Cleanup the landfills, go back to using cloth diapers.

I've posted in other threads on the hazards of leaving items on the beach, but I have to say that I'm disappointed in this lady's approach. Apparently the law needs to be fine tuned so that the proper authorities can manage beach items appropriately.

Besides the turtles, there are the many who like to be on the beach at night who shouldn't have to worry about stumbling into a hole or tripping over wire holding up a tent. It just takes away from the experience.

Ever since I was a kid, I've been one of those people who likes to go out on the beach at night and enjoy the moon, stars, and sound of the surf. As much as I love the beach during the day, there is something else about it at night. However, I thought I had read on other threads and notices and such that we (humans) are not even supposed to go on the beach at night, with or without flashlights, because it may interfere with sea turtles. I'm glad to hear a turtle watch walker acknowledge people going on the beach at night. I think if you are responsible and keep an eye out for turtles, it can be acceptable to go on the beach at night. I hope to be able to take my daughter (and other future child[ren]) out there with a (covered) flashlight like we did when we were kids. What is the official rule on people on the beach at night from May through October?

This was published in todays paper. It says the beach patrol or law enforcement had suspended enforcement of this law so they could rewrite it. Does anyone know why or what reason they have to rewrite it?

Woman charged with destroying items left on beach

She is suspected of removing items in efforts for Turtle Watch

By KIMBERLY WHITE
Northwest Florida Daily News 654-6905, ext. 244 kimw@nwfdailynews.com



SEAGROVE BEACH — A 57-year-old woman who was arrested Monday faces two misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief after she allegedly destroyed tents and inflatable floats on a beach in South Walton County early Friday.
According to a press release from the Walton County Sheriff ’s Office, witnesses saw Seagrove Beach resident Mary Brady destroy the items on a stretch of beach behind the Beachcrest Condominiums on County Road 30A in Seagrove Beach.
“There were several witnesses that saw the incident,” said Mike Gurspan, the public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office. “The investigators gathered all the information (from the witnesses) before the actual arrest was made.”
Brady, who is a reporter at the Walton Sun, recently began volunteering with South Walton Sea Turtle Watch. She confirmed that she was walking the beach as a Turtle Watch volunteer Friday morning.
She denied causing the damage, but declined further comment on the advice of her attorney.
She bonded out of the county jail and is awaiting a July 23 court date.
The incident generated some interest among south Walton County residents who are hotly debating the so-called Leave No Trace ordinance.
That law dictates which items can be left on the beach overnight, but its enforcement was suspended last month to give county officials time to revise it.
Meanwhile, Turtle Watch volunteers and other residents are concerned beach chairs, tents and other items left on the beach are interfering with the nesting habits of endangered and threatened sea turtles, which must make their way across the sand to lay their eggs.
Sharon Maxwell, director of South Walton Turtle Watch, said Brady had been volunteering with the group about three weeks.
“Of course, we don’t condone what she is supposed to have done,” Maxwell said, who added that until Brady’s case is resolved, “We asked that she not walk for us anymore.”

Sharon Maxwell, director of South Walton Turtle Watch, said Brady had been volunteering with the group about three weeks.
?Of course, we don?t condone what she is supposed to have done,? Maxwell said, who added that until Brady?s case is resolved, ?We asked that she not walk for us anymore.?

Curious, Do they offer any training before they allow someone to walk? What are the Rules they go by? What are they suppose to do under the "Groups Banner?" Just thinking...

It is crazy to me that the turtles even need to be part of the conversation. I understand that items on the beach interfere with their nesting and that many need to be educated on this. But it shouldn't take this education to get folks to pick up after themselves...

Except for a campground, I know of no other place where I can leave tents and chairs overnight. What is it about the beach that confuses folks and makes them believe it would be okay to leave their stuff out???

It is crazy to me that the turtles even need to be part of the conversation. I understand that items on the beach interfere with their nesting and that many need to be educated on this. But it shouldn't take this education to get folks to pick up after themselves...

Except for a campground, I know of no other place where I can leave tents and chairs overnight. What is it about the beach that confuses folks and makes them believe it would be okay to leave their stuff out???

Yes, what is it

It is crazy to me that the turtles even need to be part of the conversation. I understand that items on the beach interfere with their nesting and that many need to be educated on this. But it shouldn't take this education to get folks to pick up after themselves...

Except for a campground, I know of no other place where I can leave tents and chairs overnight. What is it about the beach that confuses folks and makes them believe it would be okay to leave their stuff out???

I know, that's what's confusing to me. If there's a three day music festival, do people create huge encampments, then leave them to go back home at night and assume that it will be untouched? Would you set up a ladder in a prime spot for a Mardi Gras parade and expect it to be there the next day? Why is the beach different?

I think the aggrevation comes not from stuff left overnight, but stuff left all week, and stuff abandoned completely. It's trash, plain and simple. Yeah, it's a pain to haul it in and out, but I see people doing it every day.