Community Archive

Officer Carlderius “CK” Hansford has only been an officer for a year, but he is anything but green.

Hansford, a 2017 graduate of Navarre High School, was recognized as officer of the year by the Fort Walton Beach Police Department Feb. 22.

For five years Community Life Church (CLC) in Gulf Breeze has hosted a prom night experience centered on God’s love for people ages 14 and older with exceptional abilities.

The past four years it was called Night to Shine. Last year, due to the pandemic, the event was converted into a reverse parade where the participants stayed in their cars and drove through the red carpet instead.

Elaina Riester of Woodlawn Beach Middle School placed 1st in the Navarre Rotary Club 8th Grade Essay Contest with her essay on bullying.

Being a military spouse can be tough. Deployments, operational security, and being alone far from home are some of the main issues they face. Quite often the feeling of isolation can be overwhelming. Luckily for military spouses, there are people like Sarah Curtis.

Curtis, who has been a military spouse since 2018, knows the feelings of isolation and a lack of support.

Communities are made better by the people in them and there isn’t a better place to start than with the babies born into our own communities.

Sunshine and tens of thousands of people filled Gulf Boulevard on Navarre Beach island for the 36th annual Navarre Beach Mardi Gras Parade Feb 19. There were 60 parade entries this year, from krewes to businesses to community groups.

Ye Old Brothers Brewery held a Mardi Gras festival last Saturday.

Jamie Oestmann, a paraprofessional at Holley Navarre Middle School, is grateful for her “second family” after a health emergency.

She went in for hysterectomy surgery Dec. 21. She came home and began to feel a significant amount of pain. The pain went on for some time before she realized she needed help.

History professor Brian Rucker is well known in these parts for his contributions to chronicling local history. From the local ancient Indian civilizations that populated these parts to current times, Rucker has taught and written much of what we understand today as Santa Rosa County’s history.

His newest book takes on a new topic, one dear to many folks in Florida and beyond. In Worlds within the World, Rucker chronicles the resort hotels within Walt Disney World and the unique experience each has to offer.

Chevy Whitehead, a 12-year-old student at Holley-Navarre Middle School (HNMS), was announced as a Arts4All December 2021 Student of the Month and awarded a personalized trophy with his sculpture attached to the base Feb. 1.

Chevy’s art has helped him to express himself over the course of the last two years. Chevy is on the spectrum and is minimally verbal. He can often struggle to answer questions and get his point across. Not only does Chevy speak through his art, but art has taught him how to communicate better.