Community Archive

When out on patrol, Santa Rosa County sheriff’s deputies know to keep their eyes out for anything suspicious.

While most incidents involve people, Deputy Dwayne Smith encountered something with two wings Thursday, Aug. 20, around 11 a.m.

On a night when many in Navarre were paying attention to the Florida primary elections, Holley-Navarre Water System’s (HNWS) board of directors was making plans for its own election.

Each January, HNWS holds an annual meeting, during which members elect candidates to serve on the water board. At its Aug. 18 meeting, the board appointed a director to the canvassing board, approved the election calendar and discussed candidate qualifications.

Holley-Navarre Fire District got what it asked for.

On Tuesday, Aug. 18, Navarre voters supported a fire assessment increase. According to the Santa Rosa County Supervisor of Elections, the ballot measure received 3,727 “yes” votes to 2,839 “no” votes. Percentage-wise, the vote was 56.76 percent to 43.24 percent.

Navarre Beach wastewater treatment plant filters, sifts, dilutes and cleans around 250,000 gallons of wastewater per day.

After leaving a house, condominium or business on Navarre Beach, wastewater travels to 1411 Utility Drive, where it is treated until finally being pumped into Santa Rosa Sound. The county-owned facility is permitted to dispense up to 700,000 gallons per day into the waterway.

The 1st Annual FWC Pensacola Lionfish Invitational Tournament and Festival is coming to Plaza de Luna, Palafox Pier in Pensacola, Florida, Sept. 24 to 27.

Whether you’re competing in the tournament or just joining the festival fun, FWC encourages people bring the family to learn about lionfish, taste this invasive species, enjoy activities and raffles and experience a weekend of conservation and community.

The Breeze Cinema 8 in Gulf Breeze, The Ridge Cinema 8 in Pace and Marquis Cinema 10 in Crestview have been under the ownership of the Offerdahl family since their inception.

Their company, which operates as Ashbrie Cinemas, recently made a rebranding effort with updated logos, site upgrades and a new marketing campaign.

A church may be moving into the old bottled water delivery buildings off East Bay Boulevard in Midway.

According to documents submitted to Santa Rosa County Development Services, the Vietnamese Christian Church of Northwest Florida is exploring a move to the two existing structures on the 1.38-acre property.

Soundside High School opened its doors to students Aug. 10. This first day marked the first time classes were taught at the new three-story high school.

The Library of Congress’ 2026 National Book Festival will feature a familiar face to many in Northwest Florida.

UWF President Emerita and Professor Emerita of anthropology and archaeology Judith Bense’s new book, “Early Spanish Florida: Unearthing the History of America’s Oldest Colony,” has been selected for the festival’s “Great Reads from Great Places” list.

If you’ve visited the Gulf Breeze Zoo or driven past it recently, you may have noticed a construction activity happening next door.

The activity is part of a development project to create a neighborhood of townhomes. According to Santa Rosa County Planning and Zoning Director Shawn Ward, the single-family residential development is called Soundview Cove Estates.