Prison Disturbance in Florida Panhandle

WEWAHITCHKA, FL (AP) -- More than 70 state prison inmates were moved to new facilities after a violent disturbance last week at a Panhandle prison in which five guards suffered minor injuries. Spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Corrections Joellyn Rackleff says a guard had to be treated at a hospital after the incident on Christmas Eve at the Gulf Correctional Institution. She says he had returned to work with all the other guards. Visitation was being limited today. The DOC says half of the facility's remaining inmates allowed to have visitors. The other half of the prison's inmates will be allowed visitors tomorrow. The department says a return to regular visitation policies will be evaluated on Monday. Officials had said the facility north of Port St. Joe was locked down during the week. Telephone messages left at the offices of state corrections officials were not immediately returned today.