Apalachicola News

Sure, the Maldives are magnificent. Fiji boasts lush, tropical backdrops. And Anguilla is a given for gorgeous landscapes. But Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue editors this year decided to shoot one of its hot beach-and-bikini spreads — and possibly the coveted cover — a little closer to home. In October, swearing secrecy from all involved, the magazine packed up models, photographers, editors and other staffers and headed south to … drum roll, please …. Apalachicola, Fla. "It took us a couple days to master saying it," admits Diane Smith, SI swimsuit issue editor, with a laugh. Although the magazine has been to Florida (the last time was in 2008), it has never featured the Gulf Coast region, which became a specific goal. "We thought we can do some good for our country, really help a region that needs to be showcased," says Smith. The Panhandle town's picturesque, historic port scenery, combined with the 22-mile St. George barrier island off the coast, provided just the backdrop SI was looking for. Smith adds, "For all the exotic places we've been to, there's no place like home." The town offered boats, verandahs, beautiful Victorian houses, golf carts and dogs. "It's a such a dog-friendly town. You'll see two local doggies in the magazine." More than anything, though, says Smith, "We really wanted to shine a light on the area to show it's a vibrant place. It's called the 'forgotten coast.' And we wondered, 'Why is this forgotten?' " That's all about to change as the town is featured (as one of five locations, plus some studio shots) in the SI issue, whose circulation is expected to be around 60 million. The cover will be unveiled on CBS' Late Show With David Letterman on Monday night. The issue will be available Tuesday on newsstands, on SI.com/Swimsuit and for tablet and mobile. "Apalach," says Ariel Meredith, one of the models who got to know the Florida town pretty well during the 10-day shoot. Meredith was in the SI swimsuit issue in 2009, took a break, and now returns for this issue. She's from Shreveport, La., so she considers herself a Southern belle, but she hadn't traveled to this part of Florida. "I had never heard of it, to be honest," says Meredith, who would love to follow in such famous footsteps as SI swimsuit cover girls Tyra Banks, Heidi Klum, Marissa Miller, Rebecca Romijn, Christie Brinkley and Cheryl Tiegs. "But now I have an Apalach family there." The "really friendly" locals taught her to shorten the name of the town. "I was having the worst time —Apalachahoola?— I couldn't get it right." Meredith went to the Maldives for a fashion shoot and says the Florida sand ranks with the best. "It's super soft. I thought I was in the Caribbean — or at least Miami. It's nice to roll around in," she adds, a requirement for an SI model. The suits they had her wear, she says, "fit perfectly" for the Gulf Coast. "Cute ruffles, heart-shaped bottoms, in colors that reflected the area." For Apalachicola, which is about 70 miles from Tallahassee and 60 miles from Panama City, the shoot was a very big deal. "Indescribably huge," says Shari Kerrigan of Florida's Office for Film and Entertainment. The shoot, she says, "will certainly put it on the map." She adds, "I know how much we've tried to rejuvenate that area. It kills tourism when people are going to the beach and there's oil in the water. This is going to be so good." Beyond that, she says, "it's mostly just because I'm so darn proud." She was born in Pensacola and wants the world to know how beautiful the area is. "Above and beyond my job title — it's a hometown pride kind of thing. What Sports Illustrated has been so amazing at doing is finding these beautiful, exotic places that are hidden and unknown. To be in the same ranks as these other exotic beautiful places is amazing." Anita Grove, executive director of the Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce, says the town was not directly affected by the 2010 BP oil spill. "We did not get oil on our shores. We got debris that had oil on it, but the whole BP incident was like someone sitting with a gun at your head — the possibility of getting oil was always there as it was gushing, gushing, gushing. It was a stressful situation." Now, the town will be celebrating as SI shows off the clean and pretty area. Grove says she was on hand every day during the shoot. So, how sexy was it? "I'm pretty conservative, and I don't think there was anything more revealing than you'd find on a summer day. The bathing suits to me were very tasteful. However, when they offered me one, I said I can't even get my leg in one." She's also happy to finally be able to talk about it, having been sworn "on pain of death" to not tell anyone that Sports Illustrated had been there. Didn't gorgeous models and camera crews prompt curiosity? Says Grove, "We did notice an increase in firemen and police who knew and kept coming to check on us."

Enter your e-mail to verify your identity, and we will resend an account confirmation e-mail to your address.

Pretty girl: 'Sports Illustrated' model Ariel Meredith poses for the mag's swimsuit edition, which hits newsstands Tuesday.

Covering the Forgotten Coast with the latest local news, sports and events. If it can be found on the Forgotten Coast, you will find it here Burke, daughter of Jeremy Burke, of Apalachicola, and Tina Burke, of Thomasville, Ga., joined in the celebration with her older sister, Iolana.

The following report is provided by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. Arrests are made by officers from the following city, county, and state law enforcement agencies: Apalachicola , Carrabelle , Florida Highway Patrol , Franklin County Sheriff's Office , Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission , Florida Department of Environmental ... (more)

Max Breaux Bridges was born on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012 at 7:51 a.m. at Kona Community Hospital in Kona, Hawaii.

Author Michael Morris signs books at the 2008 Books Alive conference. He will be a featured presenter at Saturday's 13th annual festival of reading at Gulf Coast State College, sponsored by the Bay County Public Library.

Enter your e-mail to verify your identity, and we will resend an account confirmation e-mail to your address.

The average life span in the U.S. is 77 years old. The oldest living person in the world right now is 114 and lives in London.

The traditional Mardi Gras ball will be this Saturday, Feb 4 at the Armory from 6:30 p.m. for dinner and show, for $50 per person.

Feb. 10: Kick up your heels on behalf of the Animal Shelter Foundation at the Furr Ever Valentine Dinner and Dance at Bradley's Retreat.

APALACHICOLA, Fla. -- Voters in the Florida Panhandle were kinder to Newt Gingrich, but not nearly enough to stop Mitt Romney from riding to a large victory margin on a tsunami of money and negative advertising.

Ranger Tugs is pleased to announce the delivery of the 100th Ranger Tug 29 to her new owners.

The February Full Moon Climb at the Cape St. George Lighthouse on St. George Island will be held on Tuesday.

The group of activists who opposed Progress Energy putting large transmission lines through downtown Apalachicola are seeking to weigh in on the plans to merge the company with Duke Energy.

Covering the Forgotten Coast with the latest local news, sports and events. If it can be found on the Forgotten Coast, you will find it here Riley Kate Ard was born Tuesday, Oct.

The following report is provided by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. Arrests are made by officers from the following city, county, and state law enforcement agencies: Apalachicola , Carrabelle , Florida Highway Patrol , Franklin County Sheriff's Office , Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission , Florida Department of Environmental ... (more)

A 16-year-old Eastpoint youth has been charged as an adult in connection with two rapes that occurred in August and December of last year.

Laura Anne Shults Randolph was born April 30, 1950, in Cullman, Alabama and passed away Saturday, Jan.

Enter your e-mail to verify your identity, and we will resend an account confirmation e-mail to your address.