FLORIDA LOOKOUTS
WHITE CITY (SAINT JOSEPH)
Gulf County
April 3, 1942: "Four aircraft spotting stations are now functioning in the county. One being located at the fire tower at White City. These stations are now reporting daily to the district control center at Thomasville, Ga." (The Star)
June 13, 1947: "H.A. Hardy, who has a beautiful garden at the St. Joe fire tower near White City, brought us in a pasel of what he called 'new and improved acorn squash.' We had never seen this particular type of squash before, but when prepared, they really made good eating." (The Star)
July 1, 1949: "John Henry Pope from the St. Joe fire tower had an operation for the removal of his tonsils and adenoids at the municipal hospital, Wednesday." (The Star)
October 22, 1973: "A Florida Department of Forestry employe was killed Saturday night when a deer his auto struck as the animal was crossing a highway crashed through the windshield, causing him to lose control of the car.
Killed was Michael Lee Raffield, 21, of the White City Fire Tower, where he lived and worked.
According to Florida Highway Patrol Troopers R.A. Harrison, J.M. King and Corp. J.M. Hardin, the car that Raffield, his wife and son were riding in struck the deer about four miles west of Wewahitchka on SR-22 at 6:55 p.m. Saturday.
The troopers said the car left the roadway at the left shoulder, struck a pine tree, and then flipped over, with Raffield left pinned inside the wreckage.
Raffield's wife and child, whose names were not available from local Highway Patrol officers, were treated and released at Bay Memorial Hospital.
Raffield was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital." (Panama City News-Herald)
May 21, 1998: "Buildings on the grounds of the White City Fire Tower were burglarized on or about Friday or Saturday, May 15th and 16th by unknown person or persons. The burglars broke into the shop area of the facility and stole tools and electronic equipment valued at approximately $10,000.
The incident is currently under investigation and anyone with information regarding the theft is asked to call the Gulf County Sheriff's Office." (The Star)