Community Archive

A turtle trawler associated with the Navarre Beach restoration project captured a sick loggerhead sea turtle on the evening of Tuesday, May 9.  The turtle was described as lethargic, emaciated and had much of her body covered with barnacles and algae.  The rescued loggerhead, later named Harriet, was transported to the Gulfarium’s Sea Turtle CARE Program in Fort Walton Beach for rehabilitation.  Allen McDowell, curator of fish and invertebrates reports she is “…doing well and responding to treatment.  She started eating on her own, which is a big milestone for her recovery.”

Tiger Point residents’ worries over traffic safety around the new Sacred Heart clinic under construction on U.S. Highway 98 are growing after they were excluded from a closed-door meeting of county and state officials on the issue last week.

Dating all the way back to 1868, May 30 has been a day to honor and remember those who have lost their lives in service to our country.  In 1868 it was called Decoration Day because the tradition involved decorating grave sites of the Civil War soldiers with flowers, flags and wreaths. 

The 23-foot sailboat gone belly up in Santa Rosa Sound near the designated swimming area of Shoreline Park in Gulf Breeze is one of 377 “derelict vessel” cases currently under investigation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Santa Rosa County is participating in PrepareAthon!, a week-long preparedness initiative with FEMA to help communities become more resilient through hazard-specific drills, group discussions, exercises and more. As part of this initiative, Santa Rosa County Emergency Management has been conducting a series of preparedness actions in coordination with National Hurricane Preparedness Week, including two public events.

Eliminating the lionfish problem in the Gulf of Mexico is a daunting task and the battle against the invasive species is ongoing.

Last week, the Santa Rosa County Zoning Board unanimously approved rezoning land to make way for a 20-acre campus for Gulf Point Academy. The rezoning of the 7600 Block of East Bay Boulevard from R1 (Single Family Residential) to PBD (Planned Business District) advances Gulf Point Academy, a private Christian school, toward final plans to relocate and expand operations in Navarre.

The Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and Navarre Press are again co-hosting the popular Thursdays in the Park Free Summer Concert Series.  The series will showcase a variety of local musicians on stage with the Navarre Sound and sunset as a backdrop. Spectators are encouraged to bring their beach blankets and lawn chairs for a night of free family entertainment.  Each week, concertgoers are encouraged to come hungry and purchase concessions provided by some of our Navarre Chamber member restaurants.

Tiger Point residents’ protests over traffic safety around the new Sacred Heart clinic under construction on U.S. Highway 98 are growing amid questions about the project’s engineering plans.

No, residents of Santa Rosa won’t be breaking the law by failing to pick up ripe fruit that has fallen from trees or bushes in their yards.