Beach Archive

Funny name, serious game. That might be an appropriate slogan for cornhole, a sport rising in popularity in the local area. The third tournament in the Gulf Coast Cornhole Series took place May 31 at Lagerheads on the Gulf.

The near shore artificial reefs of Navarre Beach in the Gulf of Mexico are growing. According to Mike Sandler, a member of the Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary committee, the growth is attributed to increased sand levels as well as new marine life.

Severe weather in 2014 damaged Navarre Beach facilities and required county commissioners to approve a budget amendment to fund the needed repairs.

The Polk boys from East Milton are well-known and highly respected in local fishing circles for their family tradition of responsible shark fishing. Recently the national media spotlight focused on them after 43-year-old Earnie Polk III and his 29-year-old cousin, Joey, reeled in the largest land-based mako shark ever caught in nearby shallow Gulf waters, catapulting them into history as legendary anglers.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologist Anne Meylan accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award last month at the International Sea Turtle Society’s 34th annual symposium in New Orleans.

The Santa Rosa Island Authority’s (SRIA) free beach trolley begins rolling along Pensacola Beach May 23 just in time for the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Two juvenile sea turtles were successfully returned to the Gulf of Mexico May 16 in the Fort Pickens Area of Gulf Islands National Seashore after having spent months in rehabilitation at Gulfarium’s Sea Turtle C.A.R.E. Program.

Navarre Beach lifeguards visited Bagdad Elementary School April 29 for the third consecutive year to talk to students about water safety. This year, the guards had a hard act to follow. Just a few days before their appearance, Bubba Watson, fresh from his second win at the Masters, visited the school.

Members of Navarre Beach Leaseholder and Residents Association (NBLRA) met May 17 for their regular monthly meeting and took time to discuss the recent news that Santa Rosa County’s beach renourishment grant application not being funded.

Navarre Beach Firefighters May 8 responded to a report of a capsized boat in the Santa Rosa Sound behind Sun Harbor condominiums. According to a report from the fire department, the crew was able to locate the boat about half-a-mile offshore. They launched a waverunner and made contact with the 19-foot sailboat.