Community Archive

The construction of a recreational playground to enhance the popular ball field is now complete at Holley Ball Park.  The grand opening was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday.

Santa Rosa County’s newest ambassador, Myrtle the Turtle has found a home at the I-10 Florida Welcome Center greeting visitors to the Sunshine State and promoting tourism for Santa Rosa County. 

The 32nd Annual Navarre Fun Fest presented by Okaloosa Gas and hosted by the Navarre Chamber of Commerce seemingly went off without a hitch on Saturday.  This year’s change in format wrapped all the fun and festivities of a two-day event into one and culminated with the crowd favorite fireworks display.

Weeks Marine delivered equipment mid-April and the first sand was pumped onshore on April 28. The first full day of operations was April 29 with only one Hopper Dredger. The second hopper dredger arrived for operations by May 2. Weather permitting, the estimated 50 days of sand placement is expected to be completed by mid-June. 

Michael Ledger, known to most of Navarre as the owner of The Vine Wine Bar & Restaurant, has taken on a new role as the executive director of the Pullum Family YMCA.  Bringing with him more than 30 years of business experience, Ledger expects his expertise to help bring the YMCA to the forefront of the community.

The award-winning Panhandle Butterfly House will open its doors for the season on Saturday, May 7 at 10 a.m. celebrating the 2016 grand opening.

Relay for Life Navarre took place Friday night into Saturday raising more than $64,000 so far.  And while the walk is over, the work is still on-going.  Fundraisers for the event will continue into August to help the organization meet their $100,000 goal.

SAFER Santa Rosa, in partnership with Santa Rosa County, is organizing the first-ever Santa Rosa Day of Service on Saturday, July 23. The organization is currently accepting projects for consideration.

Local high school students pursuing advanced education in a STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) are now eligible for new funding in the form of AFCEA scholarships. The AFCEA Blue Angels Pensacola Chapter is making $10,000 in college funds available to local high school graduates as a result of generous sponsor support of CyberThon 2016.

Santa Rosa County accounts for six percent of the 6,000 calls in the state the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission received in 2015 regarding bear problems.  However, in 2015 the bear calls in Santa Rosa County declined to its lowest point since 2011 at 352.  Rebekah Nelson, Regional Public Information Director for Florida Fish and Wildlife said, “We do not know for sure about the variation in numbers of calls.  A main reason may be natural food source availability.”